F1 Chief Mohammed Ben Sulayem Under Internal Investigation for Alleged Race Interference

The high-octane world of Formula One is facing an internal scrutiny not seen on the racetrack. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the chief of F1's governing body, the International Automobile Federation (FIA), is reportedly under investigation for accusations of interfering with the racing outcome during the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, a development that could shadow the sport's governance.

According to the BBC, an FIA compliance officer named Paolo Basarri submitted a report to the FIA's ethics committee, which was prompted by a whistle-blower. The whistle-blower has brought forth allegations suggesting that Sulayem intervened to reverse a penalty initially given to racing veteran Fernando Alonso, driving for Aston Martin.

The report from Basarri, which the BBC claimed to have seen, details the alleged interference by Ben Sulayem, initiated by reaching out to FIA Vice-President for Sport for the MENA region, Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, during his official capacity at the Saudi event.

The heart of the controversy revolves around Alonso and his 100th podium finish, which was initially rescinded then subsequently reinstated by F1 officials. The Spanish racer had completed the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in third place, only to be demoted to fourth due to a post-race penalty for improperly serving an in-race penalty. The root of the issue was the car's contact with a jack before the completion of a mandatory five-second penalty.

Later, after a rigorous right to review was won by Aston Martin, supported by new evidence, Alonso's rank on the podium was reinstated. This fresh evidence included records from a sporting advisory committee meeting and video demonstrations showing other instances where cars in similar situations were not penalized.

While this unfolds, the astute memory of F1 aficionados is drawn to another report—the remarkable recovery of a Ferrari Testarossa, owned by Austrian F1 driver Gerhard Berger, stolen during the 1995 San Marino Grand Prix. After nearly 29 years, London police have located the vehicle valued at around £350,000. Although the apprehension of Berger's red F512M offers a nostalgic closure to one of F1's unresolved thefts, the investigation's seamless success contrasts the growing uncertainties clouding the FIA's integrity.

Amid these dramatic undercurrents, the FIA's spokesperson, while reticent on confirming specific details, acknowledged that the matter is being deliberated internally. Ben Sulayem himself has not been available for comment, feeding the silence that currently envelops the FIA's headquarters.

This brewing controversy puts not only Mohammed Ben Sulayem but the governing body’s actions under critical scrutiny. The outcome and perceived impartiality of the FIA could bear lasting implications on the sport's ethical fabric, prompting fans and teams alike to call for transparency and unerring adherence to the protocols that ensure fair play.

What these examinations will yield in terms of the presidential conduct or the organization’s ethical fortitude remains a matter of keen interest. Formula One, a spectacle famed for the roar of engines and neck-to-neck finishes, is confronted with a silence that everyone hopes will be broken by the swift gavel of justice, ensuring the sport's integrity remains uncompromised.