Next F1 scandal

Helmut Marko: “The development is not positive”

Helmut Marko, Christian Horner and Max Verstappen (from left to right)

(Bild: AFP)

Before the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, there is the next scandal in Formula 1: FIA boss Mohammed bin Sulayem is under investigation. "The development is not positive," says Red Bull's Helmut Marko.

The "premier class" is not at peace. On the contrary. Formula 1 is being shaken to its very foundations. While the power struggle between the Austrian and Thai sides at Red Bull Racing is intensifying due to the Christian Horner case, the BBC has already reported the next scandal. According to a report, investigations have now been initiated against Mohammed bin Sulayem, President of the International Automobile Federation FIA. The 62-year-old is said to have influenced the scoring of the race at last year's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah by insisting that a ten-second penalty imposed on Fernando Alonso (for unauthorized work on the car during a five-second penalty) be revoked. The stewards (who must be given credit for the fact that the rules at the time did not explicitly state whether even putting the jack on the car was to be regarded as work) then actually annulled their initial decision and Alonso kept third place.

A whistleblower has now informed the FIA's compliance department, which immediately forwarded the matter to the ethics commission. What bin Sulayem wanted to achieve with this is unclear. Although this information was confirmed, neither bin Sulayem nor FIA employees wanted to comment officially. The ethics committee's report should be available in four to six weeks.

Birthday in Dubai
"This is certainly not a positive development," said Red Bull's Head of Motorsport Dr. Helmut Marko in an interview with the "Krone", but did not want to comment further on the matter. Somehow understandable, as the Horner case (an employee accused the 50-year-old of inappropriate behavior; the complaint was rejected by Red Bull GmbH; world champion father Jos Verstappen demanded after reviewing an email including a link to spicy text messages: "It can't go on like this, it will explode") hangs like a sword of Damocles over the "bull stable". Dr. Marko is reserved: "A difficult situation ... and no more comment."

In any case, the man from Graz was in a party mood before the GP in Jeddah. Together with the Verstappens, the 52nd birthday of Jos was celebrated in Dubai. Meanwhile, Horner met with Verstappen manager Raymond Vermeulen for a clarifying discussion ...