F1 News

Ferrari strengthens ties with FIA: Ben Sulayem received royally in Italy

14 May 2022 at 12:07
Last update 22 May 2022 at 12:35
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  • GPblog.com

Ferrari maintains good ties with the umbrella motorsport organization the FIA. Director Mohammed Ben Sulayem visited Ferrari in Maranello and received the full welcome package.

Ferrari and the FIA have been two hands in one for years. The team's great performance in Formula 1 has given them financial advantages for a long time. The team is an important value to Formula 1. Ben Sulayem's predecessor, Jean Todt, was team boss at the Italian racing team before he became the FIA president. With Todt's resignation, Ferrari still seems to want to keep the relationship with the FIA good.

Ben Sulayem receives a warm welcome in Italy

Ben Sulayem received a royal welcome in the hometown of Maranello. In a tweet, the president posted: "A great visit to the Ferrari headquarters, factory and museum in Maranello yesterday. Many thanks for the welcome and fruitful discussions." His thanks go to none other than chairman John Elkann, vice-chairman Piero Ferrari, CEO Benedetto Vigna and F1 team principal Mattia Binotto.

That both the team and the FIA president want to maintain mutual ties is not surprising. Ferrari is a perennial historical figure in Formula 1, and vice versa, the FIA is the sole umbrella body and regulator. Yet the good relationship between the FIA and the team came under criticism at the beginning of 2020. It was then revealed that a secret settlement had taken place between the team and the FIA over the illegal fuel supply the team had driven within 2019.