FIA wants rule changes while mired in controversy

The FIA seeks to make changes to it’s procedures which critics say insulates FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem (MBS) or at least consolidates his power ahead of his re-election campaign.

Back in 2008, the FIA General Assembly held an extraordinary meeting to hold a vote of confidence over disgraced FIA president Max Mosley. He won the vote of confidence but ultimately rested from the position in 2009.

I am somewhat surprised that a similar meeting for a vote hasn’t been called for by the FIA General Assembly or senate but I suspect the politics within the FIA are complex and ripe-to-rotten preventing such a meeting.

The FIA has become a lightning rod of controversy since MBS took the helm and it was clear, in my opinion, that he was over his head in this role. Having served his first term, it is now painfully clear to me that he is grievously over his head and miscast for the play. The pinnacle of motorsport deserves a far more professional person at its helm and MBS is, at best, junior league. His recent sacking of two race directors is further proof that his own personal interests are more important that the FIA or F1 in my opinion.

Now, I am sure there is much more going on behind the scenes and perhaps much of the drama is justified from his perspective but this recent request to change the rules seems like an attempt to consolidate his power ahead of an election. Surely it is time for a change? In fact, I’m surprise, as I said above, that they haven’t already voted him out given the damage that is being done.

Andrew Benson over at the BBC wrote a very nice piece on the entire situation regarding the rules changes so go give it a read and you’ll see what I am talking about.

Now, if you’ve read Max Mosley’s biography, you’ll know how insulated the FIA is and how enshrined it is in the EU over the governance of motorsport in Europe. Given that, F1 might look to position itself with leverage over a weak leadership in MBS and loosen the chokehold the FIA has over its governance.

Stefano Domenicali and the teams are smart cookies and I’m sure they will be looking for ways to weaken the FIA grasp in all of this as they would much rather not be governed by and independent third party in favor of something like NASCAR rather.

On one hand I don’t blame them if the FIA is going to keep unqualified journeymen like MBS in the role of president but on the other hand, I do think the FIA can be a useful governing body of motorsport and safety so if they could find a professional who had the merit and skills to lead, it would be good to continue but one might argue that the FIA hasn’t had a person like that for many decades.

Anyway, let’s see what happens with this proposed rules change. I can’t imagine that F1 or the teams want him to continue but so far he is starting a re-election campaign unopposed so far. Also the politics of buying votes from these little motoring clubs in backwater nations is an art and it makes it very difficult to hold an legit election. Let’s see if F1 doesn’t orchestrate opposition from behind the scenes. Just kidding, of course. ;)