FIA president grumbles: 'We only get rubbish'

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ben sulayem says fia only gets rubbish
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  • Ludo van Denderen

The motorsport federation faced some backlash after FIA stewards imposed a community service penalty on Max Verstappen. His F1 colleagues, including main rival Lewis Hamilton, thought the punishment was disproportionate. The seven-time World Champion even told Verstappen not to carry out the community service penalty, which he received after saying the word 'f***ed' in a press conference.

It's as if Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the president of the FIA, saw it coming. On the eve of the Singapore Grand Prix weekend, the Emirati gave an interview to Motorsport.com (which has only just been published), in which he said: "No, we will never get the credit. Impossible. We'll only get rubbish. That I know."

FIA wants to share Formula 1 success

According to Ben Sulayem, not only does the FIA get no credit, but it also gets no money. At a time when Formula 1 is flourishing like never before and millions are watching, the president argued that it would be best to allow a bit more money to flow into his organisation. "When you look at it, everybody made money out of the FIA, everyone except the FIA. Everyone gets the credit [for the success of the sport], except the FIA."

Ben Sulayem went on to state that Formula One Management and the F1 teams have done a very impressive job of growing the sport - and with it the revenue source. He said he supports these parties and would not wish for any promoter other than FOM. But the FIA also plays an important role in the whole thing. For instance, Ben Sulayem pointed out that the regulation and governance of the sport falls under the FIA.

"And then, let everyone make money. Let the drivers have fun, race in a safe way and make money. And let the team principals make more money, [and] they are. But the FIA will never get the credit. Impossible," said the Emirati.

This article has been created in collaboration with Matt Gretton