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Sacked F1 race steward Tim Mayer has taken purpose at FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem in a sequence of claims.
Mayer, who was this week axed by Ben Sulayem, says the president “straight concerned himself in making his views recognized” throughout the organisation.
A stewards’ panel is assigned to every race and represents an impartial physique of officers to supervise the race, nonetheless, Mayer says Ben Sulayem aired his views “not with the stewards straight, however by way of his employees”.
Mayer additionally revealed that the controversial choice to punish drivers for swearing additionally got here from the FIA president.
Max Verstappen was hit with a neighborhood service punishment for swearing on the Singapore GP whereas Charles Leclerc was fined €10,000, half of which was suspended, for swearing on the race in Mexico.
Mayer informed BBC Sport: “His [Ben Sulayem’s] view that the drivers must be penalised for swearing – that’s his view and what has occurred since displays that.”
Mayer added: “There are occasions when he has straight concerned himself in making his views recognized. Not with the stewards straight, however by way of his employees.
“A part of the job of the stewards is to implement the FIA’s coverage on the foundations.
Steven Kalifowitz, CMO, Crypto, Tim Mayer, Director of Car Competitors Committee of america, and Miami Dolphins Cornerback Jalen Ramsey, on the rostrum for the trophy displays
Picture by: Mark Sutton
“Technically, dangerous language is outlawed, so it isn’t unfair. Whether or not it is wise we must be chasing drivers for fairly delicate swearing is one other matter.
“Most drivers, English is their second, third or fourth language, and each go-kart child on the earth, it is the primary phrase[s] they’re taught in English. There are different methods to deal with that type of factor until your want is to flex your muscle mass.”
Mayer’s accusation is extraordinarily severe after Ben Sulayem was subjected to an inner investigation into the end result of the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
A whistleblower had claimed that Ben Sulayem allegedly intervened to overturn a post-race penalty issued to Fernando Alonso, who had been handed a 10-second time penalty for having work achieved to his automobile whereas serving a five-second penalty that he had obtained earlier within the race.
Alonso, who was initially hit with a penalty for being out of place on the grid, had his automobile touched by a rear jack when he got here in to serve his sanction.
In March this yr, a whistleblower claimed that Ben Sulayem referred to as Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa – the FIA’s vice-president for sport for the Center East and North Africa area, who was on the race in an official capability, and made his ideas recognized that the penalty must be dropped.
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 Crew, provisionally third place, with the trophy
Picture by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Pictures
The ten-second punishment was certainly rescinded and Alonso was allowed to maintain his third place.
After a assessment by its personal panel, the FIA mentioned there was no proof to assist the accusation and Ben Sulayem was cleared by the organisation’s Ethics Committee.
Sacked by textual content message
Mayer, who labored for the organisation for 15 years, mentioned he discovered of his sacking by way of textual content message from one among Ben Sulayem’s assistants on Tuesday.
He mentioned: “For a federation that depends on volunteers to fireside by textual content any individual who has made a major contribution doesn’t converse properly of the administration of the federation.”
Talking concerning the motive for his dismissal, Mayer believes it was as a result of Ben Sulayem “took offence” following an attraction by the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) chiefs following a monitor invasion by followers.
Mayer oversaw the appropriate of assessment for the organisers of america Grand Prix after they had been fined €500,000, with €350,000 suspended, following spectators working on the monitor after the race in October.
Mayer was working in his different function because the sporting organiser and had been making an attempt to get the official punishment reworded to take away any suggestion of negligence on COTA’s behalf.
Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing RB20, George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, the remainder of the sphere in the beginning of the Dash
Picture by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Pictures
He was instantly struck off the stewards’ panel for the Brazilian Grand Prix earlier than being fired this week, citing how Ben Sulayem felt the attraction was “a private assault”.
Mayer mentioned: “The official motive that will probably be given is that they felt there was a battle of curiosity with the FIA as I had led the appropriate of assessment in my function as organiser.
“However that’s not why I used to be fired. Being an organiser is a task that I’ve fulfilled, benefiting the FIA, for over 12 years. This is not new.
“Despite the matter being resolved quietly and amicably, he is nonetheless upset and determined to fireside me. After 15 years of volunteering my time as a steward, a decade instructing different stewards and lots of of hours volunteering in different roles, I obtained a textual content from one among his assistants.”
He added: “There was no intention of making an attempt to trigger an issue with the FIA and I’ll proceed because the sporting organiser of the three US Grands Prix. This was such a minor level that it’s baffling that anybody would take such offence.”
FIA departures mounting up
His departure comes after Janette Tan was inexplicably faraway from her function because the deputy Components 2 race director.
Mayer and Tan’s departures add to an inventory of exits from F1’s governing physique.
Former F1 race director, Niels Wittich, and FIA compliance officer, Paolo Basarri, additionally left their roles not too long ago, whereas within the final yr, the organisation has misplaced sporting director Tim Nielsen, technical director Tim Goss, managing director Natalie Robyn, head of fee for girls Deborah Mayer, secretary normal of mobility Jacob Bangsgaard and director of communications Luke Skipper.
Niels Wittich, Race Director, FIA
Picture by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Pictures
Mayer is alarmed by Tan’s departure as she had been set to take over from Rui Marques, who changed Wittich because the FIA’s F1 race director.
It means Marques will now oversee each F1 and F2 at this week’s Qatar GP and subsequent week’s race in Abu Dhabi, in addition to the F1 Academy.
Mayer mentioned: “She [Tan] is the epitome of the kind of particular person we would like working for the FIA, the very best of the subsequent technology of race administrators. I do not know the circumstances, however one would suppose they might work very arduous to maintain somebody of her character.
“I understand how arduous each of these jobs are. I like Rui rather a lot, however it can put him beneath unimaginable strain.
“There aren’t quite a lot of ‘platinum-level’ FIA race administrators, which is the FIA’s highest degree certification. I am one among them. It is quite a lot of work and, if you’re doing the job proper, you get up day by day with an ulcer pondering of all the varied issues you’ll want to be desirous about.
“They don’t seem to be doing themselves any favours. They’re actually working out of individuals to do these jobs.”
Motorsport.com has contacted the FIA for remark.
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Author : Motorsports
Publish date : 2024-11-28 17:05:16
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