F1 news in the UK has been revolving around Christian Horner, but a new investigation surrounding Mohammed Ben Sulayem has emerged. The FIA boss is allegedly involved in attempting to influence the outcome of the 2023 Saudi Arabian GP.
The British broadcaster ‘BBC’ has reported that an investigation is underway regarding Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s alleged attempts to sway the results of last year’s race in Saudi Arabia. Ben Sulayem is suspected of trying to overturn a penalty imposed on Fernando Alonso.
During the race, Alonso was penalized for not being properly positioned on the starting grid, resulting in a five-second penalty. Additionally, he received a ten-second penalty for his team working on his car too early during a pit stop while serving the initial time penalty. However, the final ten-second penalty was overturned, allowing Alonso to maintain his third-place finish and secure a spot on the podium.
Reports suggest that Mohammed Ben Sulayem may have sought to influence the stewards’ decision. He allegedly contacted Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamas bin Isa Al Khalifa, the FIA vice-president for sport in the Middle East and North Africa who held an official role during the race weekend. It is claimed that Ben Sulayem recommended that the stewards reverse the penalty.
A whistleblower within the FIA reportedly brought the incident to light, prompting the launch of an investigation as reported by the BBC. It is noteworthy that although several insiders were aware of the situation, the investigation was initiated only after the whistleblower came forward. The investigation process is expected to span several weeks.