Corruption at the FIA about to boil over? MBS consolidating power.

[Richard C]

Did someone break an NDA?

I take the question as if someone broke an NDA regarding MBS removing the ethical and financial checks and balances that currently exist. I don't think it is secret information. I think it has to be put to vote (FIA senate?), but he seems to be in control enough to potentially push it through.

Saying any team can hire Mayer's company is like saying anyone can bribe a politician and therefore should not be a problem. Its a clear cut conflict of interest and should not be allowed.

Mayer's situation may or may not be a conflict of interest. Reportedly the reason he was let go was not about what you brought up, but rather MBS felt insulted by the response back to the FIA by the US GP organizers (of which Meyer was the representative). So a thin skin moment for MBS which seems to be a frequent thing.

Didn't he say they hired some 150 people in the last 2 years? It is only right if they a few are let go to make way for the new guys.

MBS calls out the increase in headcount when asked about the attrition. However that is a deflection on the question. Is he back filling the positions or just increasing staff elsewhere. In some places he has no choice but to backfill (such as F1 race director), but in others (governance roles he has fired or have resigned under protest) he is not (or if he does, they will be under his control and/or toothless). The increased headcount is a red herring.

Speaking of corruption, we all know that Liberty and Teams pay the media (need not be in cash), now imagine FOM running F1 without FIA.

A well run FIA would be a good thing. FOM running it all and with only some level of internal regulations might not be ideal. So we might need to be potentially scared of F1 without FIA, but in the end, it is down to FIA starting the path of modelling itself after something like FIFA that we should be scared of.

Richard

[Mosin123]

Seems to me the witch hunt is on him. First, somebody dug up some quotes from his personal website from 20+ years ago (which werent even that bad in all honesty) and made a whole news cycle out of it. Meanwhile Helmut Marko was going full "superior race europeans" in the present and that story disappeared in days.

A tabloid puts out an accusatory story against Mercedes, FIA spokesperson gets specifically asked about it in a press conference and all he says is "we'll look into it", as they should with any serious allegation. The whole thing is dismissed within two days. Sussie Wolff goes crying to the media as if something tragic has been done to her all the while targeting the FIA and alleging legal action. Seems very calculated. If anyone, she should have been mad at the tabloid. FIA literally did nothing. It made no sense and became obvious that she was just milking it to target Ben Sulayem.

Does anyone remember Toto getting budget cap violation information before it was made public and his former secretary Sheila Ann Rao was working for the FIA during that time?

Tim Mayer was one of the Stewards let go by the FIA also runs a marketing company with Ferrari, Mercedes and RB as clients. How is that not a conflict of interest? Nobody even brought it up. Apparently asking grown up professionals to not swear in press conferences is too much.

The last person to do anything remotely anti-Mercedes was Michael Massi and that dude is completely out of F1. MBS was one of the strongest proponents of letting Andretti in FOM and Toto were the most outspoken against it. Anybody who thinks there isnt a political angle to this storyline is deluding themselves.

I read most of the teams including Redbull, Ferrari, Mclaren, Haas, Willaims, Sauber, and Alpine didnt want them in either, Any particular reason you only named Toto?

If some one names and shames before any complaint / investigation has even happened, publicly, and damages the reputation of said person, then they have done a big two fingers at said person. FIA should have just said nothing. she isnt taken them to court for no reason you know......

Every other team can hire Tim Mayers marketing company too, so i dont get the complaint, its not like he has two teams and one of them does controversial things every now that just so happen to help its bigger sister team, but is apprently 100 % free from interference....

Mohammed was also one of those giving snippets to the media about a team breaking the FFP rules, again, why only point out Toto? Ferrari was saying things too, and Mclaren. it was in the news before Toto said a word also... just like we all knew about Alpine and Honda broke the cost cap procedure before the FIA released any statement....... guess that was Totos fault too..

Cant say having the FIA president marking his own wrong doing how he wants is in the best intrest of the sport, it smells of corruption to me..

When the journalist asked the FIA spokesperson if they were aware of the story, he simply said "we are and we'll look into it." In no way, shape or form is that naming or shaming anyone by the FIA. If at all, its the tabloid that the Wolff's should be mad at and the fact they went after FIA and MBS told me immediately that it was a political thing.

MBS was not giving out any snippets regarding how many teams had violated the FFP. You're literally making it up. Even if he did, hes part of the FIA and therefore prevy to that information. Toto is not part of the FIA so him having that information should raise serious questions as to how he got that before it was made public.

Saying any team can hire Mayer's company is like saying anyone can bribe a politician and therefore should not be a problem. Its a clear cut conflict of interest and should not be allowed.

Defamation is illegal in france, an organisaton like the FIA should know better than to defame some one, with out evidence, with out doing any enquires, with out even having an accusation made. She was instantly tagged guilty, even though no team had made any accusation, or any evidence of wrong doing having been found, that in turn damaged her reputation and her husbands....

Shaila-Ann Rao Was the one who apparently leaked Redbulls FFP breach, Mohammed confirmed the specualtion ( but didnt name who ) Toto named redbull it after it had been in the papers for nearlly a week.......

[FW17]

I read most of the teams including Redbull, Ferrari, Mclaren, Haas, Willaims, Sauber, and Alpine didnt want them in either, Any particular reason you only named Toto?

If some one names and shames before any complaint / investigation has even happened, publicly, and damages the reputation of said person, then they have done a big two fingers at said person. FIA should have just said nothing. she isnt taken them to court for no reason you know......

Every other team can hire Tim Mayers marketing company too, so i dont get the complaint, its not like he has two teams and one of them does controversial things every now that just so happen to help its bigger sister team, but is apprently 100 % free from interference....

Mohammed was also one of those giving snippets to the media about a team breaking the FFP rules, again, why only point out Toto? Ferrari was saying things too, and Mclaren. it was in the news before Toto said a word also... just like we all knew about Alpine and Honda broke the cost cap procedure before the FIA released any statement....... guess that was Totos fault too..

Cant say having the FIA president marking his own wrong doing how he wants is in the best intrest of the sport, it smells of corruption to me..

When the journalist asked the FIA spokesperson if they were aware of the story, he simply said "we are and we'll look into it." In no way, shape or form is that naming or shaming anyone by the FIA. If at all, its the tabloid that the Wolff's should be mad at and the fact they went after FIA and MBS told me immediately that it was a political thing.

MBS was not giving out any snippets regarding how many teams had violated the FFP. You're literally making it up. Even if he did, hes part of the FIA and therefore prevy to that information. Toto is not part of the FIA so him having that information should raise serious questions as to how he got that before it was made public.

Saying any team can hire Mayer's company is like saying anyone can bribe a politician and therefore should not be a problem. Its a clear cut conflict of interest and should not be allowed.

Defamation is illegal in france, an organisaton like the FIA should know better than to defame some one, with out evidence, with out doing any enquires, with out even having an accusation made. She was instantly tagged guilty, even though no team had made any accusation, or any evidence of wrong doing having been found, that in turn damaged her reputation and her husbands....

Shaila-Ann Rao Was the one who apparently leaked Redbulls FFP breach, Mohammed confirmed the specualtion ( but didnt name who ) Toto named redbull it after it had been in the papers for nearlly a week.......

So you think if Christian had made the same accusations about the Wolffs, he would have been served a defamation notice.

[peewon]

I read most of the teams including Redbull, Ferrari, Mclaren, Haas, Willaims, Sauber, and Alpine didnt want them in either, Any particular reason you only named Toto?

If some one names and shames before any complaint / investigation has even happened, publicly, and damages the reputation of said person, then they have done a big two fingers at said person. FIA should have just said nothing. she isnt taken them to court for no reason you know......

Every other team can hire Tim Mayers marketing company too, so i dont get the complaint, its not like he has two teams and one of them does controversial things every now that just so happen to help its bigger sister team, but is apprently 100 % free from interference....

Mohammed was also one of those giving snippets to the media about a team breaking the FFP rules, again, why only point out Toto? Ferrari was saying things too, and Mclaren. it was in the news before Toto said a word also... just like we all knew about Alpine and Honda broke the cost cap procedure before the FIA released any statement....... guess that was Totos fault too..

Cant say having the FIA president marking his own wrong doing how he wants is in the best intrest of the sport, it smells of corruption to me..

When the journalist asked the FIA spokesperson if they were aware of the story, he simply said "we are and we'll look into it." In no way, shape or form is that naming or shaming anyone by the FIA. If at all, its the tabloid that the Wolff's should be mad at and the fact they went after FIA and MBS told me immediately that it was a political thing.

MBS was not giving out any snippets regarding how many teams had violated the FFP. You're literally making it up. Even if he did, hes part of the FIA and therefore prevy to that information. Toto is not part of the FIA so him having that information should raise serious questions as to how he got that before it was made public.

Saying any team can hire Mayer's company is like saying anyone can bribe a politician and therefore should not be a problem. Its a clear cut conflict of interest and should not be allowed.

Defamation is illegal in france, an organisaton like the FIA should know better than to defame some one, with out evidence, with out doing any enquires, with out even having an accusation made. She was instantly tagged guilty, even though no team had made any accusation, or any evidence of wrong doing having been found, that in turn damaged her reputation and her husbands....

Shaila-Ann Rao Was the one who apparently leaked Redbulls FFP breach, Mohammed confirmed the specualtion ( but didnt name who ) Toto named redbull it after it had been in the papers for nearlly a week.......

Saying "we'll look into it" is not defamation. If Wolff actually went to court against the FIA, she will be laughed out in 5 mins.

[KimiRai]

Seems to me the witch hunt is on him. First, somebody dug up some quotes from his personal website from 20+ years ago (which werent even that bad in all honesty) and made a whole news cycle out of it. Meanwhile Helmut Marko was going full "superior race europeans" in the present and that story disappeared in days.

A tabloid puts out an accusatory story against Mercedes, FIA spokesperson gets specifically asked about it in a press conference and all he says is "we'll look into it", as they should with any serious allegation. The whole thing is dismissed within two days. Sussie Wolff goes crying to the media as if something tragic has been done to her all the while targeting the FIA and alleging legal action. Seems very calculated. If anyone, she should have been mad at the tabloid. FIA literally did nothing. It made no sense and became obvious that she was just milking it to target Ben Sulayem.

Does anyone remember Toto getting budget cap violation information before it was made public and his former secretary Sheila Ann Rao was working for the FIA during that time?

Tim Mayer was one of the Stewards let go by the FIA also runs a marketing company with Ferrari, Mercedes and RB as clients. How is that not a conflict of interest? Nobody even brought it up. Apparently asking grown up professionals to not swear in press conferences is too much.

The last person to do anything remotely anti-Mercedes was Michael Massi and that dude is completely out of F1. MBS was one of the strongest proponents of letting Andretti in FOM and Toto were the most outspoken against it. Anybody who thinks there isnt a political angle to this storyline is deluding themselves.

Fully agree and refreshing to read an unique opinion compared to most on this topic

[Quantum]

Seems to me the witch hunt is on him. First, somebody dug up some quotes from his personal website from 20+ years ago (which werent even that bad in all honesty) and made a whole news cycle out of it. Meanwhile Helmut Marko was going full "superior race europeans" in the present and that story disappeared in days.

Somebody could be anybody with a keyboard and a computer. That's not a team derived witch hunt, unless you have the receipts? I mean does this excuse what MBS wrote, too?
The Marko story did not go away in days, it was months. He also acknowledged wrongdoing and issued an apology.
https://www.reuters.com/sports/motor-sp ... 023-09-08/

A tabloid puts out an accusatory story against Mercedes, FIA spokesperson gets specifically asked about it in a press conference and all he says is "we'll look into it", as they should with any serious allegation. The whole thing is dismissed within two days. Sussie Wolff goes crying to the media as if something tragic has been done to her all the while targeting the FIA and alleging legal action. Seems very calculated. If anyone, she should have been mad at the tabloid. FIA literally did nothing. It made no sense and became obvious that she was just milking it to target Ben Sulayem.

Just milking it?
Sure you arent speaking about Ben abusing his position of power to launch a spurious "investigation" based on nothing but a tabloid fantasy? See here's the thing, did they do that for all the tabloid FIA fantasies? No they didn't.
Therefore this is factually an outlier that is being ignored in your post.
The calculation you speak of was that of an opportune time for Ben to do Ben things. Which means whatever he wants. Is that political? You damn right.

Does anyone remember Toto getting budget cap violation information before it was made public and his former secretary Sheila Ann Rao was working for the FIA during that time?

On the same day, at the same time 3 team bosses said the same thing. It's clear there seems to be some fixation with Toto that somehow makes the other 2 team bosses irrelevant in your post? That's inconsistent and holds no water.
Federico Lodi and Nikolas Tombazis were also part of the investigation into the budget cap. Both have links to Ferrari and McLaren. But there is no mention of this in your post, just Rao and Merc. For balance and neutrality, surely there would be mention of those 2 before isolating one party as sus.

The last person to do anything remotely anti-Mercedes was Michael Massi and that dude is completely out of F1. MBS was one of the strongest proponents of letting Andretti in FOM and Toto were the most outspoken against it. Anybody who thinks there isnt a political angle to this storyline is deluding themselves.

Again, I don't see this as consistent. It wasn't "anti-Mercedes" as you put it. It was an unprecedented act by a race director that didnt follow the rules. Mercedes were just the victim that day, but it doesn't change the former.
Toto was not the most outspoken at all, other team bosses have been more vociferous in being against it.

James Vowels: Williams is against the addition of an 11th team, and very strongly against

Haas and Williams being the 2 most vocal against the inclusion of Andretti.
https://www.planetf1.com/news/biggest-a ... n-revealed

I mean Toto here is backed by Brown and Bravi echoing his sentiments.

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/09/ ... -f1-entry/

But the spotlight is on Toto?
I sense a rather large does of bias there. Might just be me.

[peewon]

Just milking it?
Sure you arent speaking about Ben abusing his position of power to launch a spurious "investigation" based on nothing but a tabloid fantasy? See here's the thing, did they do that for all the tabloid FIA fantasies? No they didn't.
Therefore this is factually an outlier that is being ignored in your post.
The calculation you speak of was that of an opportune time for Ben to do Ben things. Which means whatever he wants. Is that political? You damn right.

Once again, there was no investigation launched or anything. They simply said "we'll look into in" in response to a query by a journalist. It was dismissed as baseless in two days. So it wasn't an outlier coz they did nothing. Like yesterday and many other days when they do nothing.

[FW17]

I also don't like the insinuation that MBS and FIA are authors of all the regulations in F1.

It is well known none of the regulations are done by the FIA ever since the F1 commission came into existence some 30 years ago. Every decision made on rules regarding the car and the racing is jointly discussed by the teams, FOM and FIA before is applied to a season.

Drivers complain about every sporting regulation and driving standard guideline but that is something their own teams sporting director were part of writing. If drivers were unhappy about jewelry and fireproof undies, why are they not taking it up with their sporting directors? As for swearing, no excuse in a press conference, they are allowed to swear all they want on the radio, TV pen and netfix.

[Quantum]

Just milking it?
Sure you arent speaking about Ben abusing his position of power to launch a spurious "investigation" based on nothing but a tabloid fantasy? See here's the thing, did they do that for all the tabloid FIA fantasies? No they didn't.
Therefore this is factually an outlier that is being ignored in your post.
The calculation you speak of was that of an opportune time for Ben to do Ben things. Which means whatever he wants. Is that political? You damn right.

Once again, there was no investigation launched or anything. They simply said "we'll look into in" in response to a query by a journalist. It was dismissed as baseless in two days. So it wasn't an outlier coz they did nothing. Like yesterday and many other days when they do nothing.

What's this then?

"The FIA is aware of media speculation centred on the allegation of information of a confidential nature being passed to an F1 team principal from a member of FOM personnel. The FIA Compliance Department is looking into the matter."

[peewon]

Just milking it?
Sure you arent speaking about Ben abusing his position of power to launch a spurious "investigation" based on nothing but a tabloid fantasy? See here's the thing, did they do that for all the tabloid FIA fantasies? No they didn't.
Therefore this is factually an outlier that is being ignored in your post.
The calculation you speak of was that of an opportune time for Ben to do Ben things. Which means whatever he wants. Is that political? You damn right.

Once again, there was no investigation launched or anything. They simply said "we'll look into in" in response to a query by a journalist. It was dismissed as baseless in two days. So it wasn't an outlier coz they did nothing. Like yesterday and many other days when they do nothing.

What's this then?

"The FIA is aware of media speculation centred on the allegation of information of a confidential nature being passed to an F1 team principal from a member of FOM personnel. The FIA Compliance Department is looking into the matter."

Creative writing around the phrase "we'll look into it". Random gossip. I'll tell you what it isnt. An official investigation. The FIA never said there is an official investigation or named anyone as a subject of investigation.

If the Wolffs actually cared about the defamation, then they would have directed their anger and legal threats towards the tabloid which published the story. But they actually dont and just want to act victimised by the FIA and MBS.

[Quantum]

Creative writing around the phrase "we'll look into it". Random gossip. I'll tell you what it isnt. An official investigation. The FIA never said there is an official investigation or named anyone as a subject of investigation.

If the Wolffs actually cared about the defamation, then they would have directed their anger and legal threats towards the tabloid which published the story. But they actually dont and just want to act victimised by the FIA and MBS.

No, that's the official statement from the FIA.
(Not creative writing or random gossip you're suggesting it was)

A statement from the FIA on Tuesday said: "The FIA is aware of media speculation centred on the allegation of information of a confidential nature being passed to an F1 team principal from a member of FOM personnel. The FIA Compliance Department is looking into the matter."

Helps everyone here to acknowledge what happened rather than shifting this onto the Wolff's or being dismissive of it as gossip. Especially when being used to defend MBS.
The FIA Compliance Department's only reason for existence is to investigate compliance.
If it wasn't an abuse of power, there would be precedent for it explaining why.
Can you name an occasion MBS used the Compliance Department to investigate a team or individual based on what a tiny comic book rag speculated upon?

[FW17]

Ben Sulayem open to F1 permanent stewards – but asks who pays for them

Ben Sulayem acknowledges that there would be benefits from having permanent stewards in place, but he says the crux of the issue is over where their salary comes from – because the extra expense is not something the FIA can afford to fund itself.
“It’s very nice talk,” he told Autosport about the calls for a change. “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 $100 million. Do I ask where they spend it? No, it's up to them. It's their right.
“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.
“But I don't really sometimes understand. It's always about the FIA. Why are we doing this? Why are we doing that? But did anyone go to FOM?”
Ben Sulayem went on to explain that some understanding was needed about how much investment was needed to train stewards up.
"I say it again and again - stewards do not grow on trees,” he said. “It takes time to educate them. It takes time to train them. And then you evolve them, so we have a programme.
“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.
“So we have to be also very careful of the way we are going. As long as they are committed, fair, and they are trained properly, then there will be stewards who come and go.”
https://www.autospor...-them/10681734/

It is funny that this needs to be even discussed, FOM has to pay for it as expenses incurred to the sport, just like the fancy safety cars and med helicopters etc.

FOM had a revenue in 2023 of $3.2 billion and showed a $1.1 billion expense statement (includes the Las Vegas GP expense) before monies are being paid out to the teams.

Who audits this? How can F1 cost $1.1 billion in expenses? for context total track hosting fee revenue to F1 is about $0.7 billion!

[mclaren111]

F1Technical:

"A number of updates to the 2025 and 2026 Financial Regulations were approved to include an expanded definition of ‘Sustainability Initiatives’ that are excluded from the cost cap to encourage the continued push towards greater environmental sustainability.

"Updates to the 2026 Sporting Regulations were updated to reflect changes already approved for 2025, in addition to the adoption of gender-neutral language throughout.

"The 2026 Technical Regulations have also been refined, ahead of teams being able to work on the aerodynamics for the first time beginning on 1 January 2025.

WTF !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DChemTech]

F1Technical:

"A number of updates to the 2025 and 2026 Financial Regulations were approved to include an expanded definition of ‘Sustainability Initiatives’ that are excluded from the cost cap to encourage the continued push towards greater environmental sustainability.

"Updates to the 2026 Sporting Regulations were updated to reflect changes already approved for 2025, in addition to the adoption of gender-neutral language throughout.

"The 2026 Technical Regulations have also been refined, ahead of teams being able to work on the aerodynamics for the first time beginning on 1 January 2025.

WTF !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And why would that be a problem exactly?

[hollus]

/politics off/