- Sources fear governing body is damaging the sport
- Monaco criticism the latest in long line of incidents
Formula One’s owners are understood to be deeply dissatisfied with the sport’s governing body the FIA. After another weekend where the FIA’s performance was publicly criticised at Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix, there are indications of an increasing schism between F1 and the FIA and in particular its new president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. Sources fear that the governing body is damaging the sport just as it is enjoying a surge in popularity.
The FIA was criticised after Monaco when the race director, Eduardo Freitas, delayed the start because of rain. Lewis Hamilton was among several drivers who insisted they could have at least begun the race before the rain became too heavy and that the FIA was too conservative in its concern that the drivers had not done any wet running until that point. “I don’t know the reason for them not sending us out at the get-go,” he said. “We are Formula One drivers, [the weather] is not a good enough reason.”