In the space of a few days, Mohammed Ben Sulayem triggered a revolt from the GPDA (on the issue of the 'F-word' which was banned) and dismissed both the FIA race director, Niels Wittich, and Paolo Basarri – the Head of Compliance within the FIA.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem would not have requested the approval of the FIA Senate for this latest dismissal, which would be contrary to the statutes of the Federation.
The list of Mohammed Ben Sulayem's setbacks is therefore as long as Michael Schumacher's track record – here we remind you of the main feats of arms (see our article).
Guenther Steiner, former director of the Haas F1 team, said out loud what many drivers and team bosses must be thinking.
For Steiner, Mohammed Ben Sulayem is the anti Jean Todt, and that is of course not a compliment!
“I had a good relationship with Jean, and a lot of respect for this man, and for what he accomplished in his life. »
“He won a lot of championships and then he was a good president of the FIA – and that’s not easy to do. »
Regarding Mohammed Ben Sulayem, Steiner clarified, however, that his criticism was aimed at the FIA president, not the man.
“I have known Mohammed for a long time. He comes from the rally, and me too. I spent a lot of time with him. »
“As a person, I have always appreciated Mohammed. He's a good character. »
“As president? Sometimes he gets too involved in sports. »
“It’s not doing him any favors.” »
“You have to have people running the organization, because it’s a huge job to be president of a federation like the FIA. If you get involved in day to day management, I don't think there is time to do it to the level required. »
“He should have good people around him. He gets involved, and sometimes he gets criticized. »
Steiner believes that Mohammed Ben Sulayem should be surrounded by good people… but he fires them almost every day!
For example, the president of the FIA reportedly fired his compliance manager because, according to the BBC, he refused to endorse some of his orders. This would be symptomatic of a difficult personality according to Günther Steiner.
“In this position, you have to get used to being criticized. It can't always be praise. »
“If you receive compliments, you will also receive criticism. When you're a public figure, that's part of the game.”
“You can’t be everyone’s friend. This won't happen. »
It wasn't Steiner who banned the F-word…
On the famous ban on swearing, which triggered the GPDA's revolt, what does Günther Steine, for whom every comma was an 'F…', think? Is this not also another somewhat childish crisis of authority from Mohammed Ben Sulayem?
“Why bring this to the table now? We are discussing something that is not worth discussing. »
“Max made a comment about his car. Is it good? No. Is this bad? No. »
“The more we talk about it, the more controversy it creates. »
“If you don’t want that to happen?” At a pilots meeting, say, “Guys, help me, can we limit the swearing, please?” »
Steiner takes the side of the pilots, who have difficulty controlling their emotions.
“It's difficult for a driver who is traveling at 360 km/h and someone else cuts him off. You say “f***** idiot” but you don’t mean it. »
“Television censors anyway!” »
“We are emotional people. »
“It defines a sport. We need emotions in sport. Otherwise, why would it be interesting? »
“We overdid it. Did someone use the “F” word? Okay, don’t do it again, and move on…”
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