For the European Components 1 races, the FIA motorhome sits subsequent to the one which belongs to Components One Administration. To have a look at from the skin, they’re equivalent however for the color scheme. Inside nevertheless, there’s one vital distinction.
The workplace belonging to FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is rumoured to be larger than that of his reverse quantity subsequent door F1’s CEO Stefano Domenicali. It comes by the use of a eliminated partition for an assistants’ workplace and, whereas on the floor it appears to be insignificant, possibly it’s saying extra concerning the relationship between F1 and the governing physique than we realise.
This came to mind in his latest interview, when he was requested about fixing monitor limits, and Ben Sulayem responded: “No, we are going to by no means get the credit score. Unimaginable. We’ll solely get garbage. That I do know.”
Firstly, the ridiculousness of monitor limits ought to have been resolved years in the past given the GPS monitoring and digital camera info F1 has at its disposal. And secondly, the delays on the monitor limits choice making may have been improved.
Having requested to see the FIA’s Distant Operations Centre (ROC) that was opened in 2022, and is claimed to have grown significantly to help the race stewards and director with their choice making, the wait goes on to be granted go to.
You could possibly argue {that a} respectable referee in sport goes unnoticed and permits the race or recreation to thrive and go unspoilt, so maybe there isn’t any have to pay recognition. Nonetheless, it’s progress and that at the very least ought to be applauded.
The FIA motorhome
Picture by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Photographs
Nonetheless, there’s one issue throughout the interview that’s onerous to beat. And that’s Ben Sulayem’s occasion to carry up cash. The query about monitor limits quickly evolves right into a dialogue about looking for parity with F1’s homeowners Liberty Media.
“Once you have a look at it, everyone made cash out of the FIA,” he stated. “Everybody besides the FIA. Everybody will get the credit score, besides the FIA.”
Now, whether or not that is credit score or cash, it looks like the latter is extra of the main focus right here.
Then there’s his remark that if he “may return in time” that he would “simply ensure that the FIA is 2 equals with them [Liberty].” He lastly added: “I help them in what they’re doing. The FIA works with them in one of the best [possible] manner.
“However then, the laws and the governance is the [work of the] FIA. After which, let everybody become profitable.
“Let the drivers have enjoyable, race in a secure manner and become profitable. And let the workforce principals earn more money, [and] they’re. However the FIA won’t ever get the credit score. Unimaginable.”
Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Staff, 1st place, is congratulated on the rostrum by Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President, FIA
Picture by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Photographs
And there it’s once more. Credit score or cash? Or each? It’s all reasonably perplexing.
The message from the FIA is that they’re working with Components One Administration and that their relationship is powerful. Not in the identical league as Bernie Ecclestone and Max Mosley, however civil sufficient after a turbulent begin to Ben Sulayem’s tenure in December 2021 within the wake of Michael Masi’s ill-handling of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Each Components 1 and the FIA has modified so much since then. Underneath Ben Sulayem’s instruction, it has tried to get its personal home so as. The formation of the aforementioned ROC is one such instance. As is a recently-launched a programme to coach and mentor stewards and race administrators.
Basically, it has been doing what it wanted to do to grow to be a fully-functioning governing physique that was run accurately. Some would name this doing its job, and for that, does it actually deserve credit score?
In the meantime, Liberty Media has grown F1 globally, added new races, boosted profitability, labored on ranges of sustainability and seen a sizeable demographic shift in followers.
If we have a look at the cash, then within the first quarter of 2024, F1 income elevated 45% to $553 million, up from $381 million in the identical interval in 2023.
FIA flag
Picture by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Photographs
Working revenue in the identical quarter elevated practically 289% to $136 million, up from $35 million within the earlier yr. And for the groups? Payouts to the opponents within the first quarter of 2024 elevated 46% to $163 million. It may be argued all these figures are spectacular and as a consequence, deserve some credit score.
Due to this fact it’s comprehensible that the FIA is peering over at its neighbours within the F1 paddock and being envious of its successes, wealth and reward. However because the previous saying reminds us, it’s by no means straightforward attempting to ‘sustain with the Joneses’.
Nonetheless, one is a regulator, one other is a promoter. They do totally different jobs and have totally different monetary fashions. To make use of the idiom above, the Joneses are in a special league on the subject of spending.
As a substitute of chasing the cash and recognition, it might be higher to concentrate on continued enchancment for the governing physique.
Sure, delight is likely to be hit, however the actuality is it’s merely inconceivable for the FIA to measure up in opposition to Liberty Media, so they need to simply cease attempting to.