The governing body of Formula 1, the FIA, has absolved its president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, of allegations that he meddled with races in Saudi Arabia and Las Vegas last season.
Rumors swirled that Ben Sulayem had stepped in to reverse a penalty against Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Adding fuel to the fire, a whistleblower alleged that the president had instructed officials not to certify the Las Vegas circuit for the previous year’s race.
However, the FIA has firmly stated that there is no evidence to back these claims. “The concerns over potential interference were escalated to the FIA Compliance Officer and subsequently passed to the FIA Ethics Committee,” the FIA clarified in a statement.
After a thorough review of the inquiries, the Ethics Committee unanimously concluded that there was no evidence to substantiate any allegations of interference involving FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
The FIA conducted a “robust and wide-ranging independent review” over 30 days, interviewing 11 witnesses, which ultimately cleared Ben Sulayem of any misconduct.
The FIA expressed its appreciation for the president’s complete cooperation, transparency, and compliance throughout the investigation process. “His conduct during this investigation was greatly appreciated,” it said.
