F1 drivers excited as pressure builds on FIA president
Formula 1 drivers admit they are excited at the prospect of a management change right at the top of the sport.
Highly controversial FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem looks set to be challenged in Decemberâs presidential elections – by none other than Williams driver Carlos Sainzâs rallying legend father, 63-year-old Carlos Sainz.
“Obviously Iâm biased,” Sainz, 30, smiled to Spanish reporters at Imola. “But if thereâs anyone who can take the politics out of this, itâs my father. “Heâs guided by common sense.”
As a collective, the F1 drivers have been enraged by the extreme driver behaviour guidelines overseen by Ben Sulayem – including draconian penalties for things like swearing.
Ben Sulayem has now wound back the severity of the âAppendix Bâ rules.
George Russell, co-director of the Grand Prix Driversâ Association, admits he thinks the change could be “strategic timing” on Ben Sulayemâs part, given the Sainz rumours.
As for the less-harsh driver penalties, the Mercedes driver insisted: “Weâre not going to be saying thank you for something that was so crazy in the first place.
“You know, we shouldnât even be having this conversation.”
Russell even denies the FIA presidentâs claim that he consulted extensively with the drivers about the change. “Weâve had no correspondence with anyone from the senior level at the FIA,” said the Briton.
“So yeah, itâs all a bit suspect.”
Some even think the new appointment of Lewis Hamiltonâs father Anthony with a senior position at the FIA young driver program is a move by Ben Sulayem to appease his critics.
Seven-time world champion Hamilton himself, however, said at Imola that Ben Sulayemâs original driver guidelines were “ridiculous”.
“It seems a bit of a mess there at the moment,” added the Ferrari driver. “There are lots of changes that are needed, for sure.”
Max Verstappen famously did FIA community service over the winter for saying “f*ck” in a press conference, so when asked for his opinion about whether Sainz would make a better president, he answered: “You can fill that in for yourself.
“Of course people say itâs conflicting with his son but I think heâs professional enough to keep that separated from each other,” the Dutchman added.
“I think it would be a great addition to run for president.”
