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FORMULA 1

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What made Mohammed Ben Sulayem risk everything for an Aston Martin Podium?

5/3/2024

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It has made public that a whistle blower has informed the FIA's ethical committee that Mohammed Ben Sulayem president of the FIA, used his influence to have a 10 second penalty given to Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin ARAMCO(that words important) for an infringement given while serving a previous 5 second penalty. But more importantly it took Alonso and Aston Martin & ARAMCO off the podium.
It's alleged he made a phone call to Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa - the FIA's vice-president for sport for the Middle East and North Africa region,(who was an official for the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix) and made it clear the penalty needed be reversed.
Why would the President of the FIA risk his job and FIA career to change a race result? The clue is possibly in the name of the team he risked it all for.
​Some back ground-
Aramco are a Saudi Arabian, globally integrated energy and chemicals company responsible for producing approximately one in every eight barrels of the world’s oil supply & developing new energy technologies.
In March 2020 Aramco became Formula 1’s sixth Global Partner alongside DHL, Emirates, Heineken, Pirelli and Rolex. 
​The deal worth between $41-52 million a year, included trackside branding for Aramco at most races, title rights to the US, Spanish and Hungarian Grands Prix in 2020, broadcast integration and exposure through Formula 1's digital platforms. In addition to the landmark deal with F1 themselves, Aramco also became dual title sponsor of Aston Martin F1 in 2022, then going onto sign a deal to become the teams exclusive title sponsor in 2023 meaning they have a huge stake in both the on and off track action of Formula 1.
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The 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was the first home race for Aramco as the singular title sponsor on a car plus the main event and when Fernando Alonso was handed the 10 second penalty at the end of the race it took Alonso, Aston Martin and most importantly Aramco off the podium. 
Did Mohammed Ben Sulayem approach an official to influence the race result with the aim of a good will gesture to one of F1's biggest financial and technological contributers? 
We won't know until the ethic committee completes their report in 4-6 weeks but with further accusations being made against the FIA President for telling race officials in Las Vegas to invent reasons not to certify the track for racing the situation isn't looking great for the highest official in Formula 1. 
​
Joanna Blackmore 
Writer @f1journal.co.uk
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