BLEW A GASKET
Hamilton’s fuming with FIA chief Ben Sulayem
LEWIS HAMILTON launched an extraordinary attack on the FIA and declared he has never supported under-fire president Mohammed ben Sulayem.
And Britain’s seven-time world champion even went so far as to claim there is “no transparency, no accountability” at the FIA, and suggested the outcome is a lack of trust in the sport.
Ben Sulayem (inset) has been in charge of F1’s governing body since December 2021 but his tenure has been filled with controversy.
On Wednesday, he was given the all-clear by the FIA’s own ethics committee after being accused of meddling with a race result from last season.
But just hours later his organisation was back in the firing line when F1 Academy managing director Susie Wolff, wife of Mercedes team boss Toto, said she had filed a criminal lawsuit against the FIA.
It comes after the body last December announced publicly a brief enquiry into a potential ‘conflict of interest’ between the respective roles she and her husband hold. Wolff denounced the “misogynistic” allegations at the time and on Wednesday announced her legal action.
“Whilst some may think silence absolves them from responsibility it does not,” she wrote in a social media statement.
Speaking in Melbourne ahead of Sunday’s third race of the season, Hamilton gave his support to Wolff while tearing into the FIA and its president.
Asked if Ben Sulayem has his backing, the Brit replied: “He never has,” before turning to Wolff.
“I’m incredibly proud of Susie. She is so brave, and stands for such great values. She’s such a leader and in a world where often people are silenced, for her to be standing up sends a great message.
“There is a real lack of accountability here, within this sport, within the FIA. There are things happening behind closed doors. There is no transparency, really no accountability and we need that. The fans need that.
“How can you trust the sport if you don’t have that?”