The new FIA Deputy President, Robert Reid, has said that a discussion at top level about Lewis Hamilton's snub of the FIA Prize-Giving Gala is a key topic for the handover of outgoing President Jean Todt's administration to the new one, under Mohammed Ben Sulayem. Ben Sulayem was elected as the new FIA President on Friday , with Robert Reid assuming the position as his Deputy. Reid stated that the FIA will be taking a closer look at the situation, with Hamilton not showing for the obligatory ceremony after finishing as runner-up in the F1 Drivers' Championship. "Yeah, it's in the statute, it's in the rules, that if you win or are in the top three, you've got to come to the Prize-Giving," Reid said in an exclusive interview with RacingNews365.com immediately after Ben Sulayem's election victory. "We will have a briefing from Peter [Bayer, FIA Secretary General for Motor Sport under Jean Todt] tomorrow. No doubt, some of these things will be included, just of the key issues that we need to address between now and the New Year." RacingNews365.com understands that, if the FIA wish to escalate the matter, it will have be referred by the FIA's Secretary General for Sport to go before a relevant disciplinary body. It would be up to the new FIA President to decide whether this could be an International Tribunal, or a panel of stewards at the next Grand Prix.
Ensuring a level playing field
With the administration of the FIA changing hands ahead of 2022, Reid confirmed that the full review of how Formula 1 is governed and how key decisions were made during the 2021 season would continue as part of his remit. "It does fall under my deputy presidency because Jean [Todt] committed to a full review. As of now, we take that over," he commented. "It's not good for the sport when there's so much contention but, also, there's history in the sport, there's jeopardy in the sport. "I think we just need a fair and level playing field for everybody. The FIA's role is exactly that, to ensure there's a level playing field and ensure that the sport is safe."
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