Mohammed Ben Sulayem criticised by F1 team principals: “Everyone thinks he’s got to go!”
Ben Sulayem h💫as been caught in a series of controversies ahead of the 2023 F1 season and has lost the faith of team bosses.
"Everyone thinks he's got to go," an anonymous F1 team principal told . "That is def🍸initely the general v🌳iew."
The row over Andretti’s possible entry into F1 was one of many “irritants”, the anonymous boss said, while Ben Sulayem’s comments downplaying theꦓ valuation of F1 "definitely crossed over and could get the FIA into legal trouble".
A senior F1 source told BBC "there has been widespread disgustꦉ” over Ben Sulayem’s sexist comments which resurfaced in the past week.
"Those kind of comments bring dowﷺn CEOs every day," the source said.
"What he really should be doi💎ng is back-pedalling and apologising - 'I made those comments 21 years ago. I regret them,' ... whᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚatever he wants to say."
Another paddock ‘insider’ claimed: "Wha♉t will be interesting will be does he change his game at all? If he makes one more mis-step,𓂃 I don't know how he survives."
Another said: "[This] is going to be pretty interesting - even the dynamic between [F1 president] Stefano 🐬[Domenicali] and Mohammed. I get the sense they will come in not aligned."
Motorsport UK, an FIA representative, told BBC: "Motorsport should be an environment where everyone can participate, spectate, or volunteer their time💛 in an inclusive environment that is safe, fair and fun.
"There is a great deal more to be done in changing the culture within the sport to ensure that motorsport is more representative🥃 of society's demographics and champions best behaviours. For any queries or comments o🤡n the FIA, please speak directly to their media office."
After Saudi Arabia reportedly failed with a $20bn bid to buy F1, FIA president Ben Sulayem took to social media t🌊o urge ♓caution over the price tag.
This caused F1 lawyers t𒁏o write a letter, which went unanswered, to the FIA complaining that it was not Ben Sulayem’s right to make such comments.
Sexist comments by Ben Sulayem from an old website then r💖esurfaced.
This is all while rows 🔥are ongoing over new teams, including Andretti, ꦑmay possibly enter F1.
And while a new rule has been introduced prohibiting F1 drivers from making political gestures in the paddock without wri🦹tten permission from the FIA.
James was a sports j✨ournalist at Sky Sports for a decade covering everything from American sports, to f𓃲ootball, to F1.
