Ben Hunt: Rift between F1 and sport’s governing body getting wider and wider… and Monza shambles won’t help
THE FIA’s handling of the Italian Grand Prix can only have driven a bigger wedge between Formula One and the sport’s governing body.
It is a curious relationship where they both currently need each other to function — but there is a growing feeling that a divorce is on the cards.
A little bit of background: the FIA were founded in 1904 and have their headquarters in Paris.
And unlike Fifa, who oversee just football, the FIA are responsible for all motorsport categories.
They ensure the rules are in place and adhered to, issue racing licences and are responsible for the safety of drivers and spectators.
F1, meanwhile, are owned by American company Liberty Media, who own the licence to stage the championship, generating profit from deals with circuits, sponsors and TV companies.
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They are responsible for paying the teams their prize money.
However, the relationship between F 1 and the FIA has become increasingly strained, despite being bound together in a deal that was struck with their previous chiefs.
In 1995, ex-F 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone agreed a 100-year contract with then FIA president Max Mosley to acquire the F 1 commercial rights from the FIA.
Those rights have since been sold to Liberty Media, who are now bound by those same legal terms agreed by Ecclestone and Mosley.
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Yet it is not currently a happy marriage.
The stench from the end of the 2021 season and the FIA’s bungling of the outcome to the championship in Abu Dhabi was embarrassing for F 1.
Liberty have worked hard to encourage new fans to follow the sport but the poor handling harmed the sport’s reputation.
The weak result of the FIA’s own investigation — published on the eve of the Bahrain GP — was equally unhelpful, despite replacing Michael Masi as race director.
There is also the curious relationship between the F 1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali and new FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
The latter has put himself on the podium more times than Lewis Hamilton this season and is always front and centre of every presentation, unlike predecessor Jean Todt.
His tough stance on banning jewellery threatened to overshadow F 1’s new Miami Grand Prix earlier in the season.
Even more annoying for F 1 was his resistance to their proposal to introduce sprint qualifying races.
The short-race format on Saturday's to determine the grid is a hit with fans and promoters, while the teams are supportive, too.
But the president has dug his heels in over the matter and is widely believed to be seeking compensation from F 1.
For the time being, F 1 have not found an exit in their legal contract with the FIA but with teams now adding their weight to the strained relationship, maybe Liberty Media will be forced to start rethinking their options.
In their defence, the FIA have been trying to apply the rules as they see fit, using a book of regulations that have been amended and changed over the years to suit.
The best thing they could do now would be to rip up the old rulebook and come up with a new one in time for next season.
As for Ben Sulayem — who insists on being called ‘Mr President’ — he is obviously enjoying himself and the associated power.
He surely needs to put the vanity aside and focus on getting his house in order.
Otherwise, there could be no other option but for teams to force a breakaway series under a new name.
BRIT KID BEARS SCARS
BRIT whizkid Oliver Bearman was denied a Formula Three title shot in Monza because stewards stopped the finale with under five laps to go.
Bearman, 17, had battled into second when the red flag came out — and the race never resumed due to scheduling.
Ironically, the stewards could have allowed it to play out in the time they decided the outcome of the championship, which eventually went to Victor Martins.
The Frenchman was crowned, despite a five-second time penalty for four track limits violations in Italy.
Prema Racing hotshot Bearman had been chasing Zane Maloney for the victory, which would have secured him the title but the premature end to the race saw him end the season in third place.
NAKED TRUTH
POOR Sky F 1 Germany presenter Sandra Baumgartner stumbled into a naked Dutchman in Monza.
A group of Max Verstappen fans had built a makeshift grandstand out of some scaffolding.
But circuit chiefs moved in to confiscate the structure and, when Baumgartner arrived on the scene, she was greeted by a man in the nude and his inflatable bath.
ROSSI SEES RED
ALPINE chief executive Laurent Rossi is fuming at missing out on signing Oscar Piastri — despite admitting his team bungled his contract.
The Aussie joined McLaren for next season after Rossi revealed he was “leaving the door ajar for him”, which Piastri walked through and negotiated a better deal.
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REMEMBERING HER MAJESTY
THE MotoGP World Championship will observe a minute of silence in memory of Queen Elizabeth II during the Aragon Grand Prix in Spain on Sunday.
The race at the Motorland circuit takes place the day before Her Majesty’s state funeral in London from 11am.