Max Verstappen and Adrian Newey recently stated that the British media is too harsh. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the FIA president, agrees and launches a scathing attack.
Adrian Newey recently made headlines by saying that the British media was too harsh on Max Verstappen , who echoed the top designer’s words. Mohammed Ben Sulayem , the president of the FIA, also agrees. In fact, Ben Sulayem is furious.
“I respect Max,” Ben Sulayem told Motorsport.com. “Because I’ve been a driver and a champion too. And I respect winners and champions. I’ve seen what’s been written about him, but let’s talk about me. If you look at what the British media has done to me. They’ve pilloried me, even though they haven’t accused me of anything. They keep going. But do I care? No. Why not? What do they want? They want to make more money and more attention for themselves. That’s what they’re all about, of course.”
Ben Sulayem is not pleased with the criticism. “But they have no say in me or the FIA. With all due respect to the British media and all other media, they have no say in anything. We are an independent, democratic federation. The members elected me. The power lies with the General Assembly, not with the media. Can we just stop all this nonsense? Can we go back to business as usual and talk about what is best for the sport? Is that possible? I’m just asking. But if the media don’t want that, then that’s up to them. Life goes on.
The president has changed because of the media’s attitude. “Do you know what they’ve done to me? They’ve made me stronger. I’ve become more careful and wiser. And I have the support of the members. If they think it’s time for a new president, that’s their decision. After all, it’s the members who elected me for this position. And if they’re not happy with me, it’s up to them to choose someone else.”
