In a dramatic escalation, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem faces fierce criticism from Motorsport UK.
David Richards, ex-Formula 1 team principal and current chairman, accuses Ben Sulayem of abandoning promises and eroding trust in the FIA’s leadership.
The spark for this confrontation came last week when Richards, alongside deputy president of sport Robert Reid and other World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) members, were barred from a council meeting. The reason? Their refusal to sign what Richards has called a “gagging order”, a new confidentiality agreement imposed by the FIA.
In an open letter to Motorsport UK members, the 72-year-old did not hold back, detailing a litany of grievances about Ben Sulayem’s tenure since he took the helm in 2021.
“For some time now, I’ve had concerns about the erosion of accountability and good governance within the FIA,” Richards said in the letter. “An issue has recently emerged that has compelled me to take a stand.”
Richards reminded readers that Motorsport UK backed Ben Sulayem over British candidate Graham Stoker in the 2021 FIA presidential election, swayed by three core pledges: a hands-off presidency with day-to-day operations delegated to professionals, the appointment of an empowered CEO, and full transparency in governance.
However, Richards argued that these promises have crumbled. “Over the last three years, there has been a distinct failure to meet these commitments,” he said. “The situation has progressively worsened.”
One glaring example is the brief tenure of Natalie Robyn, who was appointed FIA CEO in 2022 but departed after just 18 months in May 2024.
Meanwhile, Richards pointed to a wave of resignations and dismissals among senior FIA staff and volunteers, often shrouded in mystery, as well as curbs on the autonomy of the Audit and Ethics Committees. “Our UK representative, who challenged certain matters, was summarily removed along with the chair of the Audit Committee,” he added.
The tipping point came with the new confidentiality agreement. Richards, who signed a standard version when he joined the WMSC in 2021, said the updated document went too far. “Everything was now considered confidential, without qualification,” he explained.
It also allowed the FIA to unilaterally judge breaches, with an immediate fine of 50,000 euros and the threat of further penalties. When Richards and others requested a debate at the WMSC meeting, their pleas were ignored, and they were locked out, a move he called a “total breach” of FIA statutes.
Motorsport UK, supported by their legal team and French counsel, has fired off a list of questions to the FIA, demanding clarity. “It is very disappointing to report that we have still not received an answer,” Richards said. He remains open to a revised agreement but insists the current version stifles debate and undermines the FIA’s member-driven ethos. “This is not how a member-owned organization should behave,” he wrote.
The letter also highlighted the treatment of Robert Reid, the FIA’s deputy president of sport, who has been denied access to meetings, materials, and even World Championship events. “This is not what we voted for,” Richards said bluntly.
With the FIA’s actions allegedly violating their own rules, Motorsport UK has warned of legal action if their concerns are not addressed. “In a year when the president will either be re-elected or replaced, it’s more important than ever to hold the FIA accountable,” Richards concluded. “That’s what I intend to do.”
As Formula 1 teams gear up for the season opener at the Australian Grand Prix on March 16—58 laps around Melbourne’s 5.278-kilometer Albert Park circuit—this off-track battle could cast a long shadow over the sport’s governance. Fans and teams alike will be watching closely as the FIA’s leadership faces its toughest test yet.
