Russell: Ben Sulayem needs to tell F1 drivers what the FIA’s goal is

George Russell has implored FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem to “express what his goal is” with motorsport’s governing body, amid the ongoing tension between the Emirati former rally driver and Formula 1 racers. 

The 2024 F1 season finished with the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association still awaiting a formal response to its request for its members to be treated as “adults” in a letter than publicly called out Ben Sulayem and his quest to clamp down on driver swearing. 

This is part of a wider push from within the governing body to stop drivers accidentally inciting abuse of officials with comments picked up quickly by often partisan fanbases and follows the FIA trying to reduce the risk of drivers being burned in crashes while wearing jewellery – a saga that started when Ben Sulayem became president as 2022 commenced. 

After the drivers’ letter was published on the GPDA’s Instagram account in early November, Ben Sulayem subsequently told media including Autosport that it was “none of their business” how he governs the FIA. 

When asked about the latest on the matter at the 2024 season finale in Abu Dhabi, Russell said: “I don't really know what's going on in his head, but as we said last time we had this discussion, I kind of said, like: ‘What's next? What's the next thing gonna be?’

“I didn't quite expect it to be something, two weeks later, that seems pretty serious.”  

This is a reference to the development that the FIA planned to hand matters of compliance directly to Ben Sulayem and the president of its senate, which was subsequently voted through at this month’s FIA general assembly.

“I don't really know what this whole governance change means with the compliance [situation],” Russell added – in an interview with select media including Motorsport.com. “I don't even know exactly what it is, but it seems like quite a big deal.  

“And I was quite surprised that it was ‘two weeks later, there's something else’. Is it going to be something else again in two weeks’ time?’ And ‘Where are we? Where's the endpoint?’ 

“I think it would be great for us all to understand what is the FIA’s goal and objective. And I think that would be great for us to understand, if the president could express to us what his goal is with the FIA and maybe we can see it from his perspective.  

“And maybe then we'll have a greater understanding as well.”