FIA reveal result of MAJOR F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix investigation

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FIA reveal result of MAJOR F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix investigation

The investigation concerns the conduct of key FIA personnel at last year's Saudi GP.

Originally written by Sam Cook. This version is a translation.

Saturday 23 March 2024 15:00

An internal investigation into allegations against FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem returned a verdict earlier this week (March 20).

As was first revealed by BBC Sport, Ben Sulayem was accused by an FIA whistleblower of 'race interference' at the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

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It was alleged that Ben Sulayem ordered race stewards to overturn a penalty given to Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso when he was on course for a podium.

The Spaniard had been hit with a five-second penalty for an incorrect start procedure but then was given another 10-second penalty after mechanics appeared to work on his car during the serving of the initial penalty.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem has been under fire of late

George Russell finished fourth at the Saudi Arabian GP

FIA investigation result revealed

Russell did finish less than 10 seconds behind Alonso, meaning he may have claimed what would turn out to be a third podium of the season, and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff revealed that he recalled the 'weird' situation.

Now, Ben Sulayem has been cleared of any wrongdoing, after an investigation by the FIA ethics committee.

The committee were also looking at separate allegations made by the same whistleblower that Ben Sulayem had told officials at the Las Vegas GP to find a way of passing the new street circuit as unsafe to race on, allegations the FIA president denied.

"After reviewing the results of the inquiries, the Ethics Committee were unanimous in their determination that there was no evidence to substantiate allegations of interference of any kind involving the FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem," the FIA said in a statement.

Lewis Hamilton Mercedes FIA George Russell Mohammed Ben Sulayem