The FIA is looking for ways to assist Red Bull’s competitors but will not penalize Max Verstappen.
Max Verstappen and his Red Bull team have blown away the competition this year, leading to some concerns over F1’s appeal to fans in the absence of a title fight
In light of Red Bull’s hegemony in Formula 1, Mohammed ben Sulayem would welcome a “democratic” way to level the playing field.
The FIA president is adamant that Max Verstappen’s team will not be penalized for their success this season. The Milton Keynes-based team has already locked up both titles for 2023 with five complete race weekends remaining.
Red Bull took full advantage of the fact that their vehicle was faster than everyone else’s from the start. However, the lack of title tension this season has led to some suggestions that having so little competition at the top of the sport’s hierarchy might be detrimental to its popularity.
Ben Sulayem, president of the FIA, made a suggestion that he, too, would prefer to see a much closer title match. However, he is adamant about what he will not permit to occur as a result of any efforts to make that a reality.
Look at Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher to see how often dominance has occurred. How can we stop it? Success should not be punished; it is too harsh and unjust.
If you have any ideas on how to be just, democratic, and not just punish Max and his team or any other team, please let me know. Really, we’re all ears here. But like you, I’m helpless. The FIA won’t penalize success in any way, and [dominance] has
The other big topic that Ben Sulayem has spent a lot of time talking about in recent weeks is what the F1 grid is going to look like going forward. His organisation approved the potential entry of an 11th team in the form of Andretti Global’s joint venture with General Motors, but a new entrant still requires F1 approval.
The FIA president’s view of the future of the sport is of an increase in the number of teams and a reduced number of races. A record-breaking 24-race calendar is planned for 2024 which, if Ben Sulayem had his way, would not be happening.
“Twelve teams are permitted, he said. ‘Oh, it will be crowded,’ some of the teams said. Really? We already manage a Hollywood team together. The circuits are supposed to have 12 teams’ worth of space and garages.
“In my opinion, there are too many races rather than enough teams. Less races and more teams are what we need. The teams are examining the financial issues, which are a piece of cake. Although I can understand their concerns, they differ from mine.
