Mohammed Ben Sulayem: FIA says ‘due process followed’ after sexism allegations against president

An FIA spokesperson stated: “The FIA takes allegations of abuse very significantly and addresses all complaints utilizing sturdy and clear procedures”; Sulayem despatched a letter to F1 group bosses in February during which he introduced he was to relinquish the hands-on operating of the governing physique

The FIA says “due course of was adopted” within the departure of a former worker after sexism allegations emerged in opposition to its president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

In response to The Telegraph, Shaila-Ann Rao – the FIA’s former interim secretary common for motorsport – wrote a letter accusing Sulayem of sexist behaviour earlier than her departure in December.

An FIA spokesperson stated: “The FIA takes allegations of abuse very significantly and addresses all complaints utilizing sturdy and clear procedures.

“As a part of this, the FIA has an anti-harassment coverage, an nameless whistleblowing facility and an investigation process and all workers are made conscious of those via an induction and common coaching.

“On the subject of the particular allegations surrounding Shaila-Ann Rao, due course of was adopted, with an amicable negotiation performed by the President of the Senate and as such, no referrals had been made to the Ethics Committee.

“As beforehand acknowledged, each events agreed she would depart her place in November 2022 and mutual privateness phrases had been agreed as is widespread enterprise apply.

“On the subject of the opposite allegations, there have been no complaints obtained in opposition to the President.”

Sulayem, who was elected president of world motorsport’s governing physique in December 2021, despatched a letter to F1 group bosses in February during which he introduced he was to relinquish the hands-on operating of the governing physique.

In a letter to the ten groups, he stated: “My acknowledged goal was to be a non-executive president by way of the recruitment of a group {of professional} managers, which has now been largely accomplished.

“Subsequently, going ahead, your day-to-day contact for all issues on F1 will likely be with Nikolas (Tombazis, director of single-seater racing) and his group, whereas I’ll give attention to strategic issues with my management group.”

Sulayem has now appointed the FIA’s first chief government officer, Natalie Robyn, a former automotive business government, and its first equality, variety and inclusion advisor, Ukrainian Tanya Kutsenko.

The FIA assertion added: “As a part of the restructuring of the FIA that was initiated by the President and beneath the management of our new CEO, we’re actively reviewing the whole thing of the FIA organisation with a deliberate and sustained effort to create a wonderful tradition that fosters collaboration, empowerment, and objective amongst our workers.

“Ought to the FIA ethics committee or compliance officer obtain any criticism from a member of workers it is going to be handled in a complete method by our panel of unbiased elected ethics committee members which has been in place since 2012.”