FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is below investigation for allegedly interfering with the results of the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
The race in query noticed Fernando Alonso given a 10-second time penalty shortly after ending third on account of Aston Martin being judged to have touched Alonso’s automotive with the rear jack whereas serving an earlier five-second penalty at a pit cease through the race. The staff appealed the choice, and it was overturned by the stewards later that very same evening, with the next reasoning given:
“Having reviewed the brand new proof, we concluded that there was no clear settlement, as was recommended to the stewards beforehand, that may very well be relied upon to find out that events had agreed {that a} jack touching a automotive would quantity to engaged on the automotive.
“Within the circumstances, we thought of that our authentic determination to impose a penalty on Automotive 14 wanted to be reversed and we did so accordingly.”
The BBC reviews {that a} whistleblower has now triggered a report by FIA compliance officer Paolo Basarri – since submitted to the governing physique’s ethics committee – that alleges Ben Sulayem known as an FIA official who was on the race and stated he thought the penalty ought to be overturned.
In keeping with the BBC, the report says the whistleblower claims that Ben Sulayem “pretended the stewards to overturn their determination to concern” the penalty to Alonso.
RACER has not seen the FIA report, however senior figures throughout the sport have verified its existence and say they’re involved by the allegation.
The FIA declined to remark at this stage when contacted by RACER.
