David Richards, the chairman of Motorsport UK, isn’t holding back when it comes to the FIA. He’s ready to take them to court if his concerns about governance aren’t addressed. This high-stakes move followed an incident where Richards, along with several other FIA members, was prevented from attending a world council meeting because they refused to sign a non-disclosure agreement.
Talking to members of Motorsport UK, Richards didn’t mince words. He pointed out that under the leadership of president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the FIA’s actions are violating their own rules and fall short of the expected standards of transparency, accountability, and integrity in sports governance.
Richards, who also chairs Prodrive and has a history as a Formula 1 team boss, emphasized his commitment to holding the FIA accountable on behalf of the sport and its global members. His letter doesn’t shy away from touching on the string of controversies surrounding Ben Sulayem since his election in December 2021.
These issues include his allegedly controversial perspectives on women, his handling of F1 matters, amendments to the statutes limiting accountability, the firing of several senior figures, and new rules about F1 drivers’ public behavior. According to Richards, there’s been a “distinct failure” on Ben Sulayem’s part to live up to his election promises, like conducting himself in a non-executive role and ensuring full transparency.
Richards stressed that the situation at the FIA has only deteriorated, highlighting the departure of senior figures under uncertain circumstances. He noted that the scope of the audit and ethics committees has been restricted, reducing their independence from the president’s authority, while a UK representative who raised objections was swiftly ousted.
For Richards, the tipping point came when he was asked to sign a new confidentiality agreement, which he saw as a “gagging order.” Already committed to a confidentiality agreement from his appointment to the world motorsport council in 2021, he was troubled by the new document that seemed far more restricting.
He outlined problematic clauses, such as everything being regarded as confidential, potentially stifling necessary transparency. The FIA also apparently reserved the right to determine breaches of this agreement without a clear process and imposed hefty fines and threatened damages for violations.
Richards shared that Motorsport UK’s legal team, along with French legal advisers, are challenging the FIA with specific questions that need answering. It’s concerning, he said, that there’s still no response, particularly to the fundamental question about barring elected members from meetings—an action he sees as unsupported by FIA Statutes.
Richards concluded by reinforcing the notion that, although some sensitive information has been leaked to the media over the years, it’s crucial not to misuse confidentiality to suppress volunteers on various councils and committees. He argued this is not how a member-owned organization should function. The FIA is yet to comment on the matter.
