Apr.17 (GMM) One other candidate has emerged as a possible rival for controversial FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem within the forthcoming elections.
Earlier, amid apparent unrest and high-profile departures at Components 1’s governing physique, it was rumoured that Susie Wolff might tackle the incumbent.
Her husband, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, solely supplied a half-hearted denial. “Not that I do know of,” he insisted when requested if his spouse was contemplating a run.
Pink Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko, nevertheless, insisted that Susie as FIA president is “inconceivable” whereas her husband runs and co-owns an precise F1 staff.
Nonetheless, Ben Sulayem is now a extremely unpopular FIA president. In Bahrain alone – the 63-year-old’s first look at a grand prix to date in 2025 – two notable incidents have been captured on digital camera.
In a single, Lewis Hamilton ignored the Emirati’s supply of a hug, whereas the cameras additionally captured the second on the grid when Luca di Montezemolo – his first look at a race in a decade – gave Ben Sulayem a blatant ‘thumbs down’ proper to his face.
“If I interpret that hand sign appropriately, it didn’t appear very pleasant,” Finnish commentator Ossi Oikarinen stated on Viaplay.
“Evidently issues are fairly tense on the FIA in the intervening time. I don’t suppose every part we’re listening to are simply rumours.”
Certainly, former F1 staff boss and present Motorsport UK chair David Richards was declined entrance on the World Motor Sport Council assembly in February for declining to signal a confidentiality settlement.
As not too long ago as only a few days in the past, Richards continued to slam the Ben Sulayem regime, saying the governance processes are “changing into ever extra opaque and concentrating energy within the palms of the president alone”.
Rumours are actually starting to emerge that the Briton may run for FIA president late this 12 months.
“World Motor Sport Council conferences are often confidential,” former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher instructed Sky Deutschland, “so I don’t suppose that incident was nearly that.
“There have been a whole lot of modifications within the FIA,” the German added. “I don’t know if it’s a cultural battle – are they actually making an attempt to interrupt by outdated buildings, or is Richards exaggerating?
“Hopefully it’ll all be cleared up quickly,” Schumacher stated. “There’s an election developing and I do know David Richards is a well-liked candidate. Ben Sulayem most likely needed to eliminate him so he wouldn’t should struggle him for the seat.”
