F1 chief in probe over GP

Published date05 March 2024
Publication titleDaily Star (England)
A whistleblower has told the FIA that Ben Sulayem, top boss of motor sport's governing body, allegedly intervened to overturn a penalty given to Fernando Alonso during last year's Saudi Arabia Grand Prix

The claim is in a FIA compliance officer report to its ethics committee, seen by the BBC.

It is alleged that Ben Sulayem called Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamas bin Isa Al Khalifa - an FIA vice-president who was in Saudi Arabia for the race in an official capacity - and made clear Alonso's penalty should be revoked.

Former world champion Alonso, driving for Aston Martin, had been handed a 10-second penalty for work done on his car while serving a previous five-second penalty.

Aston Martin were judged to have contravened the...

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