F1 News
Ben Sulayem confronts Russell: "Very nice talk but who pays for it?"
Relationship between some F1 drivers and FIA President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem seems to be somewhat tense with George Russell issuing fierce criticism of the FIA's behaviour recently. One of the main topics of discussion in recent times has been the FIA Stewards' consistentcy, or lack thereof, when it comes to judging incidents on track. This could be addressed by having permanent Stewards, but to do that, they would have to be paid a salary. Ben Sulayem then wonders, "Who's going to pay for that?"
"Do I ask where the F1 drivers spend their money?"
In an interview with Motorsport.com, Ben Sulayem said his piece on Russell's suggestion. According to the FIA president, it's a "very nice talk", but it's easier said than done. "But when they say professional, and they want professional, they don't want to pay for it. That is so obvious."
"They talk and then they say: ‘Where are you putting the money? Why we don't do this?’ But I don't say, ‘Oh, sorry, what about you?’ The drivers are getting over $100million. Do I ask where they spend it? No, it's up to them. It's their right," the FIA president added.
He later stated that the way the FIA uses their resources it's the governing body's "business." "So please, it’s not only me saying it is none of their business. We do whatever we do with our money. It's our business. It's also [the same] with them and their money. It's their business."
Can the FIA afford to pay Stewards?
One of the issues, Ben Sulayem points out, is that it is not simply a matter of finding Stewards, since "they don't grow on trees", revealing that the FIA have a Steward formation programme. "I say it again and again - stewards do not grow on trees. It takes time to educate them. It takes time to train them. And then you evolve them, so we have a programme."
However, the President does see the benefit in having permanent race overseeing officals, but claims that the governing body doesn't have the resources to make it happen. “I see the point about having them maybe like the Premier League where they [the referees] are paid. But we don't have the money to do that," Ben Sulayem concluded.
This article has been made with the assistance of Jeroen Immink
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