Mohammed Ben Sulayem has praised the FIA for its transparency work in 2022, citing the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix as an example. Ben Sulayem took over from Jean Todt in December 2021, days after the controversial Abu Dhabi season finale where Max Verstappen claimed the title after a season-long fight with Lewis Hamilton on the final lap. He was faced with leading the FIA's investigation into what happened at the Yas Marina Circuit, with the report being released on the eve of the 2022 season . That report, coupled with further investigations carried out throughout the campaign, has left Ben Sulayem satisfied at the work that has been done.
Ben Sulayem praises FIA transparency work
The case referred to by Ben Sulayem from the Japanese Grand Prix concerned why a tractor was allowed to enter the track as the cars filtered past behind the Safety Car after Carlos Sainz's opening lap crash. Visibility was poor at Suzuka, with some drivers reporting that they were not even aware of the recovery vehicle until they had returned to the pits. AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly was hit with a penalty for speeding past after the race had been red-flagged, and was critical of the presence of it, given that the late Jules Bianchi hit a tractor in similar conditions eight years prior which caused ultimately fatal injuries. However, the FIA were swift to launch an investigation into the incident. "We are again making changes, because we are evolving," Ben Sulayem told media, including RacingNews365.com , at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. "At the time, maybe the [2021 Abu Dhabi] report was not enough, but it was a good attempt at transparency. "Now you'll see every time we have an issue, [you should] trust us. "[If you look] at the issue in Japan, we did a thorough report and it was on the FIA website before the next race to make sure we had nothing hanging over from there."
Discussions with all drivers and teams
Two of the biggest stories from the F1 season were the effects of porpoising and Red Bull's breach of the cost cap and acceptance of an Accepted Breach Agreement and subsequent penalties. Ben Sulayem pointed out that the ABA report was transparent when asked about it, and further explained how he had been working with all teams, drivers and Formula 1 to minimise the effects of porpoising. "With porpoising, I called 20 drivers and 10 Team Principals, I had 30 phone calls, and then also with FOM and Stefano [Domenicali]," he explained. "We went and listened to them and came up with the [technical] amendment which was effective in Belgium."
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