David Richards angry with FIA in open letter

David Richards, president of Motorsport UK, has publicly criticized Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the FIA, accusing him of a shift in moral compass within the organization. This accusation is made in an open letter where Richards expresses serious concerns about the lack of transparency, accountability, and integrity of the FIA under Ben Sulayem’s leadership.

The conflict reached a breaking point when Richards was barred from participating in a World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) meeting after refusing to sign a confidentiality agreement he deemed unacceptable. Richards accuses the FIA of showing a disappointing disregard for the concerns expressed by himself and others about the excessive concentration of power in the hands of the president and the increasing opacity in the organization’s governance. He is particularly opposed to the lack of clear and independent procedures for assessing confidentiality agreement violations and resolving potential disputes. Richards has threatened to take legal action on this matter, and this action remains pending.

In a response, the FIA, through its CEO Alberto Villarreal, defended the confidentiality agreement as a common practice and expressed its bewilderment at Richards’ reluctance to comply with the same rules as his colleagues, given the harm caused by leaks of the WMSC’s confidential information. Although Richards acknowledged the existence of leaks in the past, he had never confirmed their source from the WMSC itself.

The legal action that Richards threatened to initiate last month on this matter is continuing in the background.

The challenges and future prospects

Despite this escalation of tensions, David Richards expresses hope of engaging in a constructive dialogue with the FIA’s legal adviser to resolve the points of disagreement, emphasizing that these issues are not insurmountable. He highlights that Liberty Media, the holder of Formula 1’s commercial rights, obtained a revised and less restrictive confidentiality agreement after voicing similar objections, and regrets not having had the same opportunity.

Richards, while acknowledging the recent achievements of the FIA, insists on the need to maintain a high level of transparency and openness within the organization. « But we cannot allow a shift in the moral compass of our leaders to the point of rejecting any request for transparency and open discourse », he adds.

He plans to meet with Mohammed Ben Sulayem during the Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend to try to find a solution to this dispute. The FIA, for its part, declined any further comment.

The current situation arises in a particular context: Mohammed Ben Sulayem is considering a new term as FIA president this year. Although no candidate has yet come forward to challenge him, it is implied that at least one potential opponent is preparing behind the scenes. David Richards, due to his age, cannot run himself, as the age limit for the election is set at 70 years. The outcome of this confrontation could have significant implications for the future of FIA governance and global motorsport.

Find the full open letter: click here