Ben Hunt: F1 teams concerned by FIA proposal to change governance rules

On Tuesday evening this writer received a phone call from a senior member of staff at an F1 team expressing their concern about the bombshell that the FIA is proposing to change the way it is governed.

Essentially, the proposal removes the power from the FIA ethics committee to tackle complaints and transfers it to FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and the president of the senate, Carmelo Sanz De Barros, who will then decide if any further action is required.

A vote on the proposal will take place on 13 December following this weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - raising fears that such a change would drastically change the way motorsport is governed.

It is baffling that with F1 enjoying such a peak season; a record-breaking 24-race calendar and a constructors’ championship that is going down to the wire, the paddock talk is about the FIA and its president.

As the voice at the end of the line said to me, it reminded them of a line in Top Gear when they strapped a rocket to the back of a Mini and sent it down a ski jump, with Richard Hammond saying the line: “We are, in fact, at the cutting edge of c****** it up.”

That is a fair summing up, for their opinion was also shared by several others - who are understandably worried - particularly as it stands the current president had zero opposition as he prepares to stand for a second term.

There is a fear that if such plans are approved, it will go against the promise of transparency, which was made by Ben Sulayem.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President, FIA, with Toto Wolff, Team Principal and CEO, Mercedes-AMG

Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images

However, if no rival candidate emerges, then the vote next December will be uncontested.

The last time such a high-profile sport was faced with such a position was when Sepp Blatter was voted in as the only candidate standing for the presidency of FIFA. The Swiss would later resign from the position in June 2015 amid a widespread corruption scandal.

It is worth pointing out here that there is no indication or suggestion that Ben Sulayem had done anything wrong, but having safeguarding measures in place surely protects a sport from such practices.

F1 and importantly, in this case, the FIA, are currently onto a good thing with finances and interest in motorsport in a healthy position.

It is also a concern that as yet, no senior figure has spoken about the proposed changes to the rules - but it is important that they do.

We cannot afford a similar situation to the rogue actions at FIFA that saw football dragged through the mud.

It's imperative we question 'why' and have independent governance in place as a method of protection for the good of motorsport - rather than individuals. It is even more crucial to have such scrutiny if there is no opposition to the FIA's leadership in a democratic election.

So with that in mind, and in the paraphrasing of Hammond, the FIA cannot afford to c*** it up - the proposals should be rejected.