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BBC News
23-04-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Wilson nominated as FIA deputy president for sport
Leading rally team boss Malcolm Wilson has been nominated as the new deputy president for sport at motorsport's governing body the 69-year-old has been chosen by FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem to replace Robert Reid, who resigned two weeks members will vote on Wilson's nomination at the organisation's General Assembly in Macau in a former British rally champion, is the managing director of M-Sport, which has run Ford's world rally championship programme since resigned over what he described as "a fundamental breakdown in governance standards within motorsport's global governing body".His move followed a series of controversies involving Ben Sulayem, especially what critics of Ben Sulayem describe as the erosion of accountability within the FIA and concentration of power in the president's the wake of Reid's resignation, the former FIA chief executive officer Natalie Robyn broke her silence over having left the organisation after just 18 months in the role last told BBC Sport she had "worked under challenging circumstances to strengthen the federation's governance framework and upgrade its operational transparency".She said Reid's departure "clearly indicates there are serious ongoing structural challenges", adding: "When professional processes are not adhered to and stakeholders are excluded from decision-making, it undermines the foundation of a strong organisation."Ben Sulayem said of Wilson in an FIA statement: "Malcolm has had a distinguished career in global motorsport."For over 40 years he has competed at the highest level both as a driver and technical partner to teams."This experience will be invaluable to the FIA and our member clubs as we continue to grow grassroots and professional motorsport, driving innovation in the sport to benefit fans, drivers and teams."Wilson was quoted in a statement saying that it was a "great honour" to be nominated for the added: "I very much look forward to supporting the president and all the FIA family in its important mission."There has never been a more exciting time to be in motorsport and I know first-hand the benefits the sport brings to families and communities across the world."I look forward to working with the president for the duration of his current term of office, bringing our sport to new audiences and ensuring we deliver the very best championships for all our competitors."Ben Sulayem's first term as president expires in December. No-one has yet come forward to oppose the Emirati.
BBC News
20-04-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Verstappen would not discuss penalty because 'people can't handle the full truth'
Max Verstappen refused to discuss his unhappiness with a penalty he was given in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix because he was concerned about retribution from Formula 1's governing body the four-time champion's five-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage in a first-corner battle with McLaren's Oscar Piastri potentially cost him the race win to the said: "You can't share your opinion because it's not appreciated apparently, or people can't handle the full truth. Honestly, it's better if I don't say too much."It's honestly just how everything is becoming. Everyone is super-sensitive about everything. And what we have (in the rules) currently, we cannot be critical anyway. So less talking – even better for me."Verstappen's comments are a reference to a change in the FIA's rule book over the winter that codified a series of penalties for drivers who either repeatedly swear or criticise the governing body. These were introduced at the behest of FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and can lead to a one-month ban plus deduction of championship changes were introduced after drivers' swearing in news conferences last year led to controversial penalties. Verstappen had to do a motorsport equivalent of community service for using a swear word in a news conference at the Singapore Grand Prix. And Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was fined for doing the same in Las Vegas. Verstappen said in the official news conference in Jeddah on Sunday: "I cannot swear in here, but at the same time, you also can't be critical in any form that might 'harm' or 'danger'... Let me get the sheet out. There's a lot of lines, you know?"So that's why it's better not to talk about it – you can put yourself in trouble, and I don't think anyone wants that."When it was put to him that being less expansive than previously had seemed to be a trend from him already this season, he said: "It has to do with social media in general, and how the world is. I prefer not to talk a lot because sometimes your words can be twisted or people interpret it in a different way. It's honestly better not to say too much."The phrase in the FIA sporting code to which Verstappen is referring forbids "any words, deeds or writings that have caused moral injury or loss to the FIA, its bodies, its members or its executive officers, and more generally on the interest of motor sport and on the values defended by the FIA". Verstappen's radio messages during the race clearly indicated he did not approve of the penalty he was given, but he was warned to keep his thoughts to Bull team principal Christian Horner said he felt the penalty was "very harsh" and asked rhetorically: "Whatever happened to 'let them race on the first lap?' That just seems to have been abandoned."The stewards' verdict contained an answer to that - it said that the normal penalty for leaving the track and gaining a lasting advantage was 10 seconds, but they reduced it to five because it was the first was penalised for cutting the chicane after the start and keeping the had got fully alongside him on the inside on the entry to the first corner. Despite this, Verstappen cut the second part of the chicane and retained the lead.F1's driving standards guidelines effectively say that the corner was Piastri's in that say that for a driver overtaking on the inside to be "entitled to be given room (his car) must have its front axle at least alongside the mirror of the other car prior to and at the apex, be driven in a fully controlled manner particularly from entry to apex and not have 'dived in''; and in the stewards' estimation have taken a reasonable racing line and been able to complete the move while remaining within track limits."Piastri comfortably complied with all these said: "The stewards had to get involved, but I thought I was plenty far enough up (alongside) and in the end that's what got me the race."I knew that I had enough of my car alongside to take the corner. We obviously both braked extremely late. For me, I braked as late as I could while staying on the track. And I think how it unfolded is how it should have been dealt with."McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said: "Oscar, thanks to a very good launch off the grid, and thanks to positioning the car on the inside, [was] slightly ahead of Max, managing to keep the car within the track limits, then he gained the rights (to the corner), and obviously in that situation you can't overtake off track."This is a clear case. It shouldn't create any polemic, really."Verstappen led until the first pit stops, when he served the penalty and dropped behind Piastri, who controlled the race from there to take his third win in five grands prix this included a bold move around the outside of Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari on the approach to the high-speed Turns 22 and 23 at a critical point of the race, to minimise his time loss on the lap Verstappen had shown strong pace in the first stint, tracked closely by the McLaren, and was pulling away slightly by the time Piastri made his stop on lap into the lead, Piastri controlled the race but was unable to extend his lead over Verstappen despite having the advantage of clean air. The win put him into the lead of the championship for the first time in his short career - Piastri made his debut only in 2023. He is 10 points ahead of team-mate Lando Norris, with Verstappen a further two performance has impressed Verstappen."He's very solid," Verstappen said. "He's very calm in his approach, and I like that. It shows on track. He delivers when he has to, barely makes mistakes – and that's what you need when you want to fight for a championship."The Dutchman also had praise for the influence of Piastri's manager, the former F1 driver Mark Webber."With Mark by his side, he's helping him a lot," Verstappen said. "It's great."People learn from their own careers. That's what I had with my dad, and Mark is advising Oscar. At the end of the day, Oscar is using his talent, and that's great to see." Norris 'needs to chill out a little bit' Piastri was overshadowed by Norris in 2024, but has been the more impressive of the McLaren drivers since the start of this who fought back from 10th on the grid after a crash in qualifying to finish fourth, just nine seconds behind Piastri, admitted after the race that he needs to "chill out a little bit" and that he was "not surprised" he had lost the championship crash in qualifying was his biggest mistake of the season but it comes after a series of small errors, usually in qualifying, that have harmed his chances in races since he won the season-opening grand prix in Australia from pole position."I have been very confident in my race, it's my qualifying, my Saturdays, which are not good enough at the minute," Norris said."That's because I am struggling a little bit with the car. Yesterday was not the car, it was just me trying to take too many risks."So I just have to peg it back. I've got the pace. It's all in there. It's just sometimes I ask for a bit too much and sometimes I get a bit too 'ego' probably and try to put the perfect lap together. I just need to chill out a little bit."I make my life too tough on Saturday. So it makes my Sundays a little more fun at times but I miss out on a few trophies. I have to work on my Saturdays and if I do that I am confident I can get back to where I was."
