We won't see a team boss like that or a team like Jordan in the sport ever again. Sadly the sport is the land of beige and corporations now. God speed, Eddie.
I have no doubt Ben Sillyman will get voted in again , but the knives are out . Below taken from Autosport . With the resignation of the FIA deputy president Robert Reid, president Mohammed Ben Suleyam has lost his most senior management figure while criticism against his course of action has swelled to significant levels. Reid announced on Thursday that he will leave with immediate effect over what he felt was a "breakdown of governance standards" and "critical decisions being made without due process". His comments echo criticism fielded by Motorsport UK chairman David Richards, who wrote in an open letter that "the governance and constitutional organisation of the FIA is becoming ever more opaque and concentrating power in the hands of the president alone”. Both Reid and Richards were recently barred from attending a World Motor Sport Council meeting over their refusal to sign a non-disclosure agreement as part of a stricter protocol imposed by the president. Richards characterised the move as a "gagging order". Criticism of Ben Sulayem's management is not new. Chief executive Natalie Robyn left her role last year after just 18 months over similar governance concerns, following the resignations of single-seater technical director Tim Goss, sporting director Steve Nielsen, and Deborah Mayer, the president of the FIA's Women in Motorsport Commission. While Ben Sulayem has not shied away from controversies on a variety of matters, the focal point of opposition against his reign stems from his apparent move towards a blueprint of what critics have characterised as a more authoritarian leadership style. An army of executives, officials and stewards have since been removed - critics may prefer the word 'purged' - from their position following intervention by the president, including long-time steward Tim Mayer, while Ben Sulayem also clamped down on other matters including driver swearing and the wearing of jewellery by drivers, and is accused of stalling the governance part of the new Concorde Agreement. Criticism grew after the FIA's General Assembly in Rwanda last year, where amended statutes were voted through that effectively limited to which extent FIA leadership can be held accountable, handing Ben Sulayem and the FIA senate president Carmelo Sanz De Barros the power to decide whether to take further action on any ethics complaints, including any about themselves. Ben Sulayem had been subject of a probe into allegedly intervening to overturn a penalty against Fernando Alonso at the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and the certification of F1's new Las Vegas Grand Prix circuit. After an investigation by the FIA ethics committee, the Emirati was cleared of any wrongdoing. The compliance officer in charge of the investigation, Paolo Bassari, was later sacked after disagreements with the president, with reports suggesting the Italian paid the price for pushing back against Ben Sulayem's requests. Reid said the FIA's decision to take the promotion of the World Rallycross Championship in-house "without Senate or World Council approval", circumventing the body's usual governance structure, was the final straw that led to his resignation. It is that apparent concentration of power, that contradicts the FIA president's initial election promise of vowing to be hands-off and transparent, that is now causing the initial ripples against his management style to swell into a tidal wave. The resignation of deputy president Reid - the man who ran alongside Ben Sulayem's presidential ticket in 2021 - is by far the most high-profile departure yet, perhaps best compared to a US vice president resigning over the sitting president's actions. The timing is no great coincidence. Ben Sulayem is up for re-election at the end of the year, with no clear opposition candidate identified at this stage. At 72 Richards himself is too old to run, past the FIA-imposed limit of 70, with it unclear what 59-year-old Reid's future plans will be. But the fact that both Richards and Reid have spoken out against Ben Sulayem in public to such a degree suggests knives are being sharpened and moves are being made to stand against Ben Sulayem as he seeks a second term. Whoever ends up running against Ben Sulayem will have a huge challenge on their hands, though. The new president will be voted in by the FIA General Assembly, the same organisation that voted 75% in favour of the change in accountability statutes that have caused such an outrage. The General Assembly consists of all member clubs and national sporting authorities representing the 245 member organisations hailing from 149 countries, with all members having the same voting power. It encourages the presidency to make sure to keep the smaller nations and clubs on board - similarly to football behemoth FIFA - so it will take some doing for the European-based opposition against Ben Sulayem to win the numbers game. Time will tell if the swelling wave of protest will grow into the tsunami required to topple him. It appears the waters are being tested.
Thanks - on top of this, some interesting comments from Russell yesterday talking about Sainz’s fine for missing the start of the anthem in Japan - he’s clearly settling the drivers up to align with F1 and indicating that they’ve given up trying to engage with this iteration of the FIA. With Concorde still needing agreement between the FIA and the other parties you can see how they are all setting up a standoff to build pressure on a change of leadership.
I really do want him gone . I think he has so much support , that , barring something really shocking , Sillyman will be voted in again .
Understanding the role and power of the FIA is complicated, so trying to see how this will all play out is really hard. We’re definitely in uncharted waters here, it’s a relatively new dynamic for F1 and the FIA to be getting along, rather than working closely together with aligned objectives. We’ve also never seen two parties agree to a Concorde agreement (at least publicly) with the third then left to negotiate their part - this may be important or it may be that the Cadillac negotiations created an accelerated timeline and that F1 being listed nowadays means it has an obligation to announce such a significant deal. The main lever that the FIA has always had to prevent a breakaway, is power over the events circuits can run, so any defectors to a parallel World championship could lose any other FIA sanctioned series. It seems to me though this power has never been smaller, there are more temporary circuits that are used once a year only than ever before and I’d guess F1 makes up a bigger proportion of a circuit’s race income than ever before. It would definitely cost F1 to set up a breakaway championship, they’d likely have to lower some race hosting fees for traditional tracks that are important to keep, but they might offset that by gaining calendar space to enter new markets. They’d also have to set up and fund a company to regulate their series, but that comes in the context of the FIA asking for more income in F1. The drivers have always had a foot in both camps and having an independent regulator in a dangerous sport has historically been valuable. Can we view Russell’s “trust” comment as suggesting they’d be happy with an owner/operator model that most other sports have? Is that something FOM would actually be interested in? The ownership situation of modern F1 definitely will definitely have made more traditional governance more viable, but I do think the model we currently have has made F1 more proactive about safety than it would otherwise have been and that’s an area where the FIA is wholly a positive. Finally what would losing F1 mean for the FIA and the smaller Motorsport associations that make up so much of the current President’s supporters? Ultimately I see Concorde being signed, no-one really wins from a breakaway. The question really is how much co-ordinated pressure can those who are dissatisfied apply, to try and force a change in leadership or at least governance and how far are they actually prepared to go if the answer is none?
GM get formal approval to supply PUs from 2029. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/articles/c8epgyx80g4o
well with those genes she'll either end up in a racing car or the most reviled person on Earth. Or both.
R.I.P. Jochen Mass F1 and Le Mans winner Mass dies aged 78 please log in to view this image IMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGES Image caption, Jochen Mass made his Formula 1 debut at the 1973 British Grand Prix Lorraine McKenna BBC Sport Journalist Published 3 hours ago Jochen Mass, who won the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix for McLaren, has died at the age of 78. The German passed away on Sunday because of complications following a stroke he suffered in February, his family announced. Mass, who competed in 114 Formula 1 grands prix and secured eight podium finishes, also won the Le Mans 24 Hours with Switzerland-based Sauber in 1989. "Today we mourn the loss of a husband, father, grandfather and a racing legend," his family said in a statement. "Beyond mourning his death, we also celebrate his incredible life. A life that he loved sharing with all of you. A life that he lived to the absolute fullest. "He is racing with all his friends again." Mass was the other driver in Gilles Villeneuve's fatal accident during qualifying for the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix at Zolder. Ferrari's Villeneuve came across Mass' March going slowly and a misunderstanding led to a collision. Mass was a mentor and driver coach on the Mercedes young driver programme during his final three years at Sauber, and helped Michael Schumacher before the future seven-time world champion entered F1. Mass finished his career with 32 world championship victories in sportscar racing with Alfa Romeo, Porsche and Sauber-Mercedes. From 1993 to 1997, Mass was a co-commentator on F1 for the German broadcaster RTL. please log in to view this image IMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGES Image caption, F1 boss Stefano Domenicali said Mass, pictured here in 2019, "was a wonderful person who embraced life
Well done Martin Brundle . https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/1...gues-after-receiving-obe-from-prince-of-wales Martin Brundle paid tribute to his Sky Sports colleagues as he revealed he was "ecstatic" at receiving an OBE from the King's New Year's honours. The Sky Sports pundit and nine-time F1 podium finisher was honoured for his services to motor racing and sports broadcasting, with the Prince of Wales presenting him the award at Windsor Castle on Tuesday. The British veteran of 158 grands prix has been part of Sky Sports F1's coverage since the channel launched in 2012. It made me feel very lucky and very privileged because always something like this, you receive on behalf of an awful lot of other people because either they were designing and creating and fixing my racing cars, or working with us in the broadcasting industry," Brundle told Sky Sports News. please log in to view this image Image:The Prince of Wales presented Brundle with his award "You can't do anything on your own at the level of Formula 1. I've been very lucky to have two careers in F1 as a driver and a broadcaster, which this award has been presented for. "When the letter came through just before Christmas, I was ecstatic Brundle, 65, said there had been "plenty to talk about" for him with the Prince of Wales, as he recalled their first meeting at the 1992 British Grand Prix. "He came along with his mother and his brother," Brundle said. "We met them just after the drivers' briefing on race day. "We're west Norfolk people and he spends quite a bit of time up there, so plenty to talk about. He told me a few other things, but I guess they're private." F1 president Stefano Domenicali was among several big names from the sport to congratulate Brundle via social media. Domenicali said: "Huge congratulations to Martin Brundle on receiving his OBE for services to motor racing and to sports broadcasting. He has been a tireless supporter of motorsport and constant presence and brilliant voice to all our fans over many years." Mercedes driver George Russell added: "Congrats Martin, well deserved. Best in the business!!" 'Viewers are living the grid walk with me' Brundle has perhaps become best known for his pre-race grid walks, which see him seek out interviews with drivers and celebrities just minutes before lights out. He explained that the unpredictable nature of the feature is what he believes has made it so popular with fans watching from home. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player please log in to view this image Play Video - 'I'm in charge around here!' | Brundle's BEST grid walk moments 2024 A look back at the most memorable moments from Martin Brundle's grid walks in the 2024 Formula 1 season Brundle said: "We're only there to tell the story, the stories about the cars and the drivers, and we're there to explain what is a fast-moving and highly complex sport. "We get in amongst it, we've got access, we've got opportunities, we know everybody pretty well. But then the grid, it just gets busier, there must have been 1,000 people on there in Vegas. I can't see anybody half the time, sometimes I can't even see an F1 car. "We try to find people, we talk, and I think because it's a bit edgy and sometimes it fails miserably, I think people are kind of living it, if I'm having a good day or a bad day. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player please log in to view this image Play Video - Brundle vs Unicorn | Unique China gridwalk moment! Martin Brundle meets Mr Unicorn! Xue Zhang was on the grid looking for the fastest man in Formula 1 "I've never watched one in 27 years of doing it because it's not my natural habitat to run around being cheeky and interrupting people, but it's sort of grown a life of its own. "What it was put in for originally was to ramp up the excitement before the grand prix. The cars go to the grid, it calms down a bit and then let's get some energy going. "The chance to talk to a driver literally before they pull their crash helmets on and zoom down to the first corner is unique in sport."
Silly man is taking the PI$$ FIA president proposes changes to governing body please log in to view this image IMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGES Image caption, Mohammed Ben Sulayem was appointed as FIA president in 2021 Andrew Benson F1 Correspondent Published 1 hour ago FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is proposing changes to the statutes of motorsport's governing body that appear to further extend his control. BBC Sport has seen a confidential document containing the proposed revisions, which are set to be voted on at a meeting of the FIA General Assembly next month. These bring forward the deadline for candidates for December's presidential election, give Ben Sulayem the possibility to bar any candidate from running against him and allow him more control over the membership of the FIA Senate. No critic was prepared to comment on the record about the changes, as many are bound by non-disclosure agreements. But one said: "Most proposals aim at some sort of consolidation of power, more centralised control and trying to eliminate independent checks and balances." Another said the document containing the proposals was "very cleverly written". "It's taking a very moral high ground," they said. "Or it's appearing to. Whereas the reality of it is probably less so." Ben Sulayem was criticised last December for statute changes that were labelled a "worrisome concentration of power" by one of its member clubs. The FIA have been approached by BBC Sport for comment. FIA changes criticised as they are voted through Published 13 December 2024 Questions of integrity The most controversial proposal is one that dictates there "must not be anything in the record of the candidates standing for the election as members of the presidential list that calls into question their professional integrity". According to the document of proposed statutes, the reason for adding this is that such an eligibility criterion is currently absent from the FIA statutes and internal regulations. It says that this should be in the requirements for a presidential campaign "for the sake of consistency" because it already applies to candidates standing for a number of other FIA bodies, such as the F1 cost-cap committee, and audit and ethics committees. However, the list of presidential candidates and their teams, which are strictly defined, is monitored by the FIA's nominations committee. If it finds any ethical issues with a list, it would refer the matter to the FIA's ethics committee. Both bodies are controlled by the FIA president and his allies, following changes to the statutes made by Ben Sulayem last year. In combination with the FIA's code of ethics, this could appear targeted at Carlos Sainz, the rally legend who has already declared his interest in running for president in December. The code of ethics dictates that parties of the FIA "shall avoid any conflicts of interest and must disclose any situation that could lead to such a conflict". Sainz is the father of Ferrari Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz, so it would in theory be easy for the ethics committee - should it be so minded - to declare that he has a conflict of interest that bars him from running for election. Changes to senate composition Ben Sulayem has also proposed changes to the nomination of members of the senate, the body that controls the FIA in combination with the president. The senate consists of 16 members, 12 of which are defined in the statutes as representatives of the president, his team and members of the two world councils, for sport and mobility and tourism. The final four are currently "proposed" by the president and "confirmed by" the other 12 members of the senate. Ben Sulayem is proposing that the president should "appoint" these final members, with no oversight from the other senate members. The reason given for proposing this change is to allow "more flexibility in having the expertise required for the many and varied topics it has to deal with and which may require an urgent decision". However, the FIA statutes already contain article 18.4, which appears to cover this. It allows the senate to "invite other members to join in the study of specific questions". One source close to the situation said this was "so clearly poorer governance that the boldness is surprising". Another said: "It's a convenient way of dressing up a way where 'I can potentially get rid of these people when it suits me.'" please log in to view this image IMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGES Image caption, Carlos Sainz has declared his interest in running for president in December Changes to ethics and other committees Another change proposes that the four-year term of office of the members of the audit, ethics and nominations committees be brought into line with that of the president. Currently, the document states, these terms "do not necessarily start at the same time as that of the members of the presidential list". The reason given for this change is "to ensure consistency between terms of office and group these elections together". However, critics says that while this "seems efficient", it also gives "fewer options for dissent outside of a presidential cycle". Last year, Ben Sulayem sacked the heads of the audit and ethics committees after they were involved in investigations into him and his office. Changes to world council Ben Sulayem is also proposing to make a change to the composition of the world motorsport council, the organisation's legislative body. Current rules says that 21 of the 28 members must be of different nationalities. Ben Sulayem is proposing, in the interests of "flexibility", that there be "no more than two members of the same nationality among the seven vice-presidents and the 14 elected WMSC members". The document states this could deprive the FIA of "candidates from other backgrounds whose experience and qualities could also be beneficial to the WMSC in fulfilling its missions". A critic says this increases Ben Sulayem's ability to "stack the WMSC with the people he wants". Election timing The proposals also bring forward the deadline for candidates to declare their teams for the presidential election, from 21 days prior to the election to 49 days. The reason given is that the current time limit "leaves the nominations committee with very little time to check the eligibility of the 11 candidates (for a presidential team) proposed in a given list". Critics say it could give the president longer to have the nominations committee look at reasons to bar candidates and members of their team. Candidates are required by FIA rules to submit their chosen president of the senate, deputy presidents for sport and mobility and seven vice-presidents for sport from all the FIA's regions. All positions must be filled before a campaign for a candidate to be allowed into the election. Related topics
Ben Sulayem is from a country where rules are strict and harsh.He is now wishing to run Formula 1 in the same fashion with absolute authority,almost like a dictator. Formula 1 is from a country that relates to the principals of democracy and equal rights where people are free and have a choice to do as they wish. There is no place in our sport for people like Ben Sulayem and I wish he could be removed ASAP. It probably will not happen though as he has too many supporters in the FIA and are more than willing to re-elect him every time and money always talks.
The circus of Formula 1 is now complete,it has become so Mickey Mouse they have now linked up with the Disney world. Give me strength ! Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, and Pluto. They are all going to be there on the grid
