FIA News: Member Clubs support Ben Sulayem, urge lawsuit

(GMM) A raft of FIA member clubs and federations are urging F1’s governing body to fight fire with fire amid an obviously escalating conflict.

Susie Wolff, wife of Mercedes boss Toto, recently filed a criminal complaint in France following accusations by controversial FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem of conflict of interest and the exchange of confidential information.

But just before that, Ben Sulayem faced accusations of interfering with F1 stewards’ decisions and even trying to block homologation of Liberty Media’s new prestigious F1 venue in Las Vegas.

The FIA is ready to issue lawsuits in support of Mohammed ben Sulayem, President in Spa, Belgium. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

The governing body’s ethics committee cleared him of wrongdoing.

And now, multiple FIA member clubs and federations “of the Americas” have signed a letter in defiant support of Ben Sulayem, claiming the accusations were made out of “self interest” and with “the sole purpose of causing harm”.

The letter, including the signature of South America for Sports’ Fabiana Ecclestone – wife of former F1 supremo Bernie – among many others, also urged the FIA to hit back with its own legal action.

“We will recommend that the FIA initiate legal action against those who, without cause, slander the FIA and its leadership,” the letter reads.