This follows on from concerns raised by the GPDA (Grand Prix Drivers Association) and WoRDA (World Rally Drivers Association) regarding conduct at press conferences, media interviews and even inter-team communications which only served to highlight these issues to a wider fan base.
Mr Richards commenced his statement with the words: “Our task is to serve the best interests of motorsport in this country.” Of course there are many who will agree and others who will disagree with the ongoing management and actions of Motorsport UK, but no-one should doubt the sentiment or the intention of our own governing body.
It therefore follows that the FIA (Federation Internationale Automobile) should have the same mission statement, but on a global scale. However, it would appear that some individuals have lost sight of that ideal and have been ‘influenced’ by Mr Trump’s latest book entitled, ‘Respect, Tact and Diplomacy’.
Those who are elected/appointed to positions of ‘governance’ in any sporting body should remember that they are there primarily for the benefit of those who participate, whether competing or officiating, and of course, those who follow and spectate. The ‘governors’ are there to administrate not dictate. Coincidentally, our elected politicians would do well to note that they too are merely temporary administrators, and not unaccountable dictators.
The current FIA President was elected some three years ago on promises of change, transparency and a desire to restore financial stability after years of profligacy and loss. That final point should not be taken lightly. The Paris based FIA is big business. It has around 232 employees and in 2022 generated an income of some 139 million Euros against an expenditure of 146m Euros, whereas in 2023 income was around 155m Euros against an expenditure of 156m Euros, with the President predicting an operational surplus in the year 2024.
It is to his credit that he is on track to restore the financial health of this non-profit organisation but at what cost? Criticism was levelled at the President following the controversial finish to the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix which Max Verstappen won from Lewis Hamilton thereby scoring his first F1 World Championship title. Further criticism was expressed concerning statements made regarding the circuit safety of the 2023 Las Vegas F1 race venue and the results of the 2023 Saudi Arabian GP. This was followed by the resignations of a number of senior race officials, technical personnel and commission members while more recently there has been intense media speculation around the departure/removal/replacement of appointed stewards, observers and media commentators with some disquiet being expressed within F1 and WRC teams.
It can’t all be one person’s fault so perhaps there is more change underway in the higher echelons of motor sport governance - and surely that is why we need more transparency.
What’s all this got to do with us mere minions at the back of the grid or bottom of the entry list? Plenty, especially if the world governing body start dictating to every country’s own national sporting authority.
To deny the UK’s representatives David Richards CBE, Chair of Motorsport UK, and Robert Reid, FIA Deputy President for Sport, admittance to FIA council meetings is a shocking turn of events. So much for democracy and openness.
Maybe we should enlist the farmers and their tractors to support Messrs Richards and Reid as they advance on Paris for the next meeting. “They don’t like it up ‘em y’know,” as Corporal Jones once said.
My own worry is - The strong will do what they like and the weak will suffer the consequences!
