F1 turmoil again

Scandal! FIA investigates its own president

FIA President Mohammed bin Sulayem is in trouble.(Bild: APA/AFP/Giuseppe CACACE)

After the accusations against Red Bull team boss Christian Horner had dominated the Formula 1 headlines for several weeks, another scandal is now causing a stir. The FIA is investigating its own president, Mohammed bin Sulayem.

The 62-year-old is accused of interfering in a race. According to the BBC, Bin Sulayem campaigned for the ten-second penalty imposed on Fernando Alonso in Saudi Arabia in 2023 to be revoked.

Alonso in luck
The Spaniard had crossed the finish line in third place at the Jeddah Grand Prix, but as he had not correctly waited for a five-second penalty that had previously been imposed on him, this should have been doubled - Alonso would have lost his podium place as a result. 

However, the penalty was not imposed - perhaps because the president of the governing body had a hand in it? In any case, the FIA is investigating the incident and a result is expected in four to six weeks. Even though the first race of the season took place without any major highlights, Formula 1 is already causing quite a stir away from the tarmac ...