Ben Sulayem’s Answer to Drivers: “We Don’t Follow Other People’s Rules”

FIA President Mohamed Ben Sulayem publicly responded to a statement by the Driver’s Association (GPDA).

In early November, the GPDA noted several concerns in an Instagram post, including a call for a reevaluation of recent sanctions for inappropriate comments in response to Ben Sulayem’s criticism.

The drivers’ association also called for a review of the FIA president’s communication methods, noting that drivers are “adults” and do not need advice on “trivial” matters. They also demanded transparency regarding the use of fines imposed on drivers and teams.

A few weeks after this statement, Ben Sulayem finally responded to the GPDA, but this response is not going to be to the liking of the drivers.

It’s not their problem,” Ben Sulayem told Motorsport.com. I’m sorry, but as a former driver myself, I respect the drivers. Let them focus on what they do best: racing.”

Ben Sulayem: “Others should not interfere in our affairs”
Ben Sulayem also addressed personnel changes within the FIA, including the dismissal of Niels Wittig, then race director of F1.

This is our problem,” insists the FIA President. We do everything that is good for the FIA. We do everything that is good for the FIA, so others should not interfere in our affairs. What matters is the results we produce.”

Do we need to explain to them what we did?” Ben Sulayem continues, “Do we owe them an explanation? Do we owe them an explanation? When something changes in the team, do they tell us? No, they don’t. No one is obligated to do that. We have rules and we follow our rules. We don’t follow other people’s rules. That’s all.”