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FIA Topdog to Face Karmic Justice After Triggering Civil War With Lewis Hamilton & F1 Grid

Published 01/31/2023, 5:37 AM EST

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via Reuters

As per the latest developments in the F1 world, it seems that the head of the FIA may lose his job. Mohammed Ben Sulayem has never shied away from sharing his thoughts on anything concerning Formula 1 or any other subject outside the realm. But as things stand, his outspoken attitude might have landed him in a civil war with the F1 grid.

According to a recent statement from the FIA, Formula 1 drivers will now need to request permission before making political remarks in the 2023 season. Ever since this rule was made public, the FIA has been under heavy scrutiny. These restrictions surely didn’t set well with Lewis Hamilton. And now, according to the German publication Sport1, there are rumors that the FIA’s top dog could be removed from his post with a British successor already lined up as a replacement.

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It almost appears like karma, as in the midst of an ongoing civil war between F1 and the FIA, speculations say that F1 owners, Liberty Media, want to get rid of Ben Sulayem. David Richards, chairman of Motorsport UK and former team principal of BAR and Benetton, has been proposed as a successor. As per Sport1, he is open to taking over but cautions Liberty that they must first establish Ben Sulayem’s wrongdoing.

However, that’s not all. Things have gotten worse recently, as a result of remarks made by both parties opposing the idea of selling commercial rights to Saudi PIF.

Ben Sulayem said the cost ($20 Billion) proposed by PIF was “inflated.” Then Liberty Media retaliated, stating that Ben Sulayem’s remarks were “unacceptable” and that the FIA might be held responsible for damages. But this is not the only thing the former rally driver finds himself in trouble for.

FIA’s president Mohammed Ben Sulayem makes a controversial statement

Mohammed Ben Sulayem is probably living through a nightmare. The president has been experiencing a string of bad luck for the past few weeks. Contrary to his stance on diversity in F1, his 20 years old sexist remark has now returned to bother him. In addition to all the criticism he has received for his take on F1’s valuation, the president is also receiving backlash for his inappropriate comments.

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via Reuters

As reported by Crash.net and Mirror, the comments were discovered by The Times on his website, which was accessible online in 2001. In a post, Sulayem disclosed that he, “doesn’t like talking about money, nor do [he] like women who think they are smarter than men, for they are not, in truth”.

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Subsequently, one of FIA’s spokespeople gave a statement, saying, “The remarks in this archived website from 2001 do not reflect the FIA president’s beliefs. He has a strong record on promoting women and equality in sport, which he is happy to be judged on.”

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WATCH THIS STORY: F1 Fans Bash the FIA as Lewis Hamilton Is Now Forbidden From Donning His Jewelry

According to rumors, the owner of the sport has decided whether they want to continue using Sulayem’s services in the future. Next month will mark the start of the new season; in the meantime, we must wait to see what Liberty Media’s decision is in this regard.

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Written by:

Aditya Srivastava

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Aditya Srivastava is an F1 Author at EssentiallySports. Although he has completed his undergrad in History, due to his passion for the field, he couldn't hold himself back from entering the world of Sports Journalism. Being a huge fan of Formula 1, Aditya has taken up multiple internships and freelancing gigs where he got to pen down his thoughts about the most prestigious form of motor racing in the world.
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Edited by:

Ranvijay Singh