Ben Sulayem highlights 'rubbish' levels of FIA credit

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem believes it is "impossible" for the governing body to receive the credit he thinks it deserves, rather than just "rubbish".

Ben Sulayem thinks more credit should be given to the FIA for making improvements across the board in motorsport. 

There has been changes made by the governing body since Ben Sulayem became FIA president in December 2021. 

A programme has been created to train and mentor race directors, marshals and stewards, whilst a remote operations centre to assist race control has also been set-up. 

A new method to deal with track limits was also installed at the Red Bull Ring, which F1 drivers mostly approved of.

When asked by Autosport if enough credit had been given to the FIA for solving track limits, Ben Sulayem answered:

"No, we will never get the credit. Impossible. We'll only get rubbish. That I know."

For the investments made by the governing body in an attempt to improve motorsport, it is not just credit the FIA president believes is deserved.

"When you look at it, everybody made money out of the FIA, everyone except the FIA," he said. "Everyone gets the credit, except the FIA.

"It's true. When I took over, we had a running operating cost of minus 20 million. Why? Because we have our income as everybody.

"But look at the promoters… And good on them and I congratulate them, they are smart enough to do that…

"But I'll be very, very honest, as always. So Liberty Media did a great job in transforming Formula 1. If you tell me if I could go back in time, would I undo [that]? No way."

F1 has transformed since Liberty Media became the owner of the pinnacle of motorsport, with the sport being bigger than ever before. 

Ben Sulayem does support what has been done by Liberty Media to grow F1, and believes there is no company who could do as good a job. 

However, the FIA president wishes that if he could go back in time, he would ensure the governing body are treated as equals to Liberty Media. 

"I wouldn't undo that, but I would just make sure that the FIA is two equals with them," added Ben Sulayem.

"They are a good promoter, they are. If you ask me today: is there anyone who is capable as much as them? I can see that [there isn't].

"I support them in what they are doing. The FIA works with them in the best [possible] way.

"But then, the regulations and the governance is the [work of the] FIA. And then, let everyone make money.

"Let the drivers have fun, race in a safe way and make money. And let the team principals make more money, [and] they are."

"But the FIA will never get the credit. Impossible."