Ben Sulayem's FIA: Leadership Turmoil Deepens

Leadership turmoil engulfs the FIA as key figures depart, raising questions about Ben Sulayem’s management amid growing internal disagreements.

Concorde Square Hardly Lives Up to Its Name for the FIA

After Niels Wittich, the race director reportedly “resigned against his will” (see our article), the FIA has now faced another forced departure. This time, it’s Paolo Basarri, who stepped down from his position as the FIA’s compliance officer.

Multiple sources within the FIA and close to the organization have indicated that the Italian was dismissed after apparently losing the trust of FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem—who is, by all accounts, not the easiest manager in the world (to put it mildly).

According to the BBC, Basarri reportedly resisted or attempted to bypass several directives from Ben Sulayem, leading to the latter’s dissatisfaction.

“I cannot comment on that,” Basarri told the BBC.

The FIA has also declined to comment further.

What issues might have been involved? That remains unclear. However, it’s worth noting that Basarri was the FIA official who authored a report on allegations of interference by Ben Sulayem in two Grands Prix during 2023.

A whistleblower had informed the FIA that Ben Sulayem allegedly intervened to overturn a penalty imposed on Fernando Alonso at the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, reportedly to avoid displeasing Aston Martin F1 sponsor Aramco. Ben Sulayem was also said to have pressured against approving the Las Vegas circuit, allegedly as a jab at FOM (Liberty Media), his long-standing adversaries.

The ethics committee, following an investigation, ultimately cleared Mohammed Ben Sulayem. Notably, this was an internal FIA ethics committee.

BBC Reports Basarri’s Dismissal May Have Violated Protocol

According to the BBC, Basarri’s dismissal may not have followed proper procedures. FIA rules stipulate that the position of compliance officer is overseen by the FIA Senate, which must approve any termination. However, sources indicate that Basarri’s departure was not discussed during the Senate’s most recent meeting.

Another Departure at the FIA…

Before Basarri and Wittich, the FIA had already endured the resignation of Sporting Director Steve Nielsen after less than a year in the role. Deborah Mayer, head of the FIA Women’s Commission, had also left shortly before.

Other notable exits include Tim Goss, former technical director for single-seaters, who joined Red Bull F1, and Natalie Robyn, CEO, who stepped down after just 18 months in the position.

In October, Communications Director Luke Skipper and Mobility Secretary General Jacob Bangsgaard also left the organization.

In summary, the FIA increasingly resembles a sinking ship. For now, only the captain, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, remains aboard—but for how much longer?