Are the FIA playing keeping up with the Joneses?

For the European Formula 1 races, the FIA motorhome sits next to the one which belongs to Formula One Management. To look at from the outside, they are identical but for the colour scheme. Inside however, there is one important difference.

The office belonging to FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is rumoured to be bigger than that of his opposite number next door F1’s CEO Stefano Domenicali. It comes by way of a removed partition for an assistants’ office and, while on the surface it seems to be insignificant, maybe it is saying more about the relationship between F1 and the governing body than we realise.

This came to mind in his latest interview, when he was asked about solving track limits, and Ben Sulayem responded: “No, we will never get the credit. Impossible. We’ll only get rubbish. That I know.”

Firstly, the ridiculousness of track limits should have been resolved years ago given the GPS tracking and camera information F1 has at its disposal. And secondly, the delays on the track limits decision making could have been improved.

Having requested to see the FIA’s Remote Operations Centre (ROC) that was opened in 2022, and is said to have grown considerably to assist the race stewards and director with their decision making, the wait goes on to be granted visit.

You could argue that a decent referee in sport goes unnoticed and allows the race or game to thrive and go unspoilt, so perhaps there is no need to pay recognition. Nonetheless, it is progress and that at least should be applauded.

However, there is one factor within the interview that is hard to overcome. And that is Ben Sulayem’s instance to bring up money. The question about track limits soon evolves into a dialogue about seeking parity with F1’s owners Liberty Media.

“When you look at it, everybody made money out of the FIA,” he said. “Everyone except the FIA. Everyone gets the credit, except the FIA.”

Now, whether this is credit or money, it seems like the latter is more of the focus here.

Then there is his comment that if he “could go back in time” that he would “just make sure that the FIA is two equals with them [Liberty].” He finally added: “I support them in what they are doing. The FIA works with them in the best [possible] way.

“But then, the regulations and the governance is the [work of the] FIA. And then, let everyone make money.

“Let the drivers have fun, race in a safe way and…