F1 schism with FIA deepens after controversial decisions in Monaco

Formula One’s owners are understood to be deeply dissatisfied with the sport’s governing body the FIA. After another weekend where the FIA’s performance was publicly criticised at Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix, there are indications of an increasing schism between F1 and the FIA and in particular its new president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. Sources fear that the governing body is damaging the sport just as it is enjoying a surge in popularity.

The FIA was criticised after Monaco when the race director, Eduardo Freitas, delayed the start because of rain. Lewis Hamilton was among several drivers who insisted they could have at least begun the race before the rain became too heavy and that the FIA was too conservative in its concern that the drivers had not done any wet running until that point. “I don’t know the reason for them not sending us out at the get-go,” he said. “We are Formula One drivers, [the weather] is not a good enough reason.”

The events were the latest in what is now a series of FIA decisions that the Guardian understands is increasingly infuriating F1 and its teams. Ben Sulayem took over in December from Jean Todt and under his stewardship a fractious relationship with the sport has developed.

He presided over the FIA failure to ban Russian drivers from competing in FIA events, allowing them to continue to race under a neutral flag, when F1 had acted swiftly and decisively to sever all ties with the Russian GP. The FIA was made to look farcical shortly afterwards when individual national racing bodies such as Britain’s Motorsport UK issued their own ban on Russian teams, competitors or officials participating in events in the UK.

Equally the FIA report into the controversy of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was felt by