Mohammed Ben Sulayem succeeded Jean Todt as president of the FIA in December 2021, and since taking over the position before the 2021 season’s end, he has undoubtedly had one of the most challenging first years.
The “controversial” 2021 season finale, the forceful implementation of the no-jewellery and fireproof underwear regulations, and recently Cashgate have all been issues that Ben Sulayem has had to deal with since succeeding Jean Todt.
The only thing that all of these problems have in common is that Max Verstappen, Red Bull, Mercedes, and Lewis Hamilton are typically at the centre of each one.
Red Bull’s “minor” cost cap breach for the 2021 season is still being dealt with, and if the punishment is not satisfactory to the standards of the paddock, the president is most likely to face additional problems.
Many people have demanded that Red Bull be severely penalised, and McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown even wrote to the president personally to accuse the Austrian-based team of cheating. Red Bull wasn’t specifically mentioned by Brown, but it wasn’t hard to determine who the letter was addressed to.
Ben Sulayem has certainly struggled to adapt to his position as easily as his predecessors had given everything he has had to face. The president underwent a “christening of fire,” and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff openly complimented the president for the work he has done.
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Wolff said: “Last season ended with a big controversy at the start of his reign, then what we have seen from that moment on was a firm stance on various regulations and I think that is important.”
“He has had a christening of fire with Abu Dhabi and I think you can’t object to him that he is not enforcing the regulations, for trivial things and for the important ones.”
The 2021 season finale is somehow trending once more with Red Bull’s cost cap breach currently making headlines. By the time 2030 rolls around, the championship will probably still be in the news, as more and more fans and team principals are upset that Max Verstappen won the 2021 competition when his team exceeded the financial limit.
Actually, the FIA has the option of punishing Red Bull with a deduction of points, however a fine is more likely. Therefore, given that it is probable, there is a potential that Verstappen will not retain the championship from the previous season and that Hamilton will.
Wolff doesn’t seem to be entirely in favour of taking the Dutchman’s title away, which is surprising. He admits that altering the results from the previous season would be bad for the sport and that everyone needs to “move on” from what was undoubtedly the most contentious season finale in the sport’s history.
He added: “When these things happened, there were voices that it would go away and let the season start, but it was just so controversial that it is still around,”
“Is it good for the sport? I don’t think so. I think we need to move on.
“There is nothing we can do about it anymore and this is what we have done because you can’t eat yourself up every day.”
