MARCH 5, 2024
FIA president accused of tampering with F1 race result
Yet another scandal is breaking out in Formula 1 - this time putting FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem under the spotlight.
© Aston Martin Racing
According to leading publications including La Repubblica (Italy), L'Equipe (France) and Britain's BBC, the 62-year-old - already the subject of earlier F1 power struggles and accusations - is accused with interfering with the work of Formula 1 stewards.
The president is alleged to have intervened during the 2023 Saudi Arabian GP to have a penalty imposed on Fernando Alonso removed,
La Repubblica reported.
The (FIA's) ethics committee will rule on the case within a month and a half.
An FIA official is said to have alleged that Ben Sulayem called his Middle Eastern and North African vice-president asking for a penalty imposed on Aramco-sponsored Aston Martin to be withdrawn - resulting in Alonso keeping his podium place.
Aramco, the Saudi state-owned oil company, is also a major sponsor of Formula 1.
(GMM)