Getty Image / Michael Potts / BSR Agency
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), has sided with Red Bull and Max Verstappen after a recent war of words was ignited by Formula One legend Lewis Hamilton.
Max Verstappen and Red Bull currently hold such a commanding league in the Formula 1 standings that it is unreasonable to believe they can be caught this season. Verstappen has 229 points, 7 wins, and 9 podiums. Sergio Perez trails him in 2nd with 148 points. Lewis Hamilton sits in 4th with 106 points and 3 podiums.
Lewis Hamilton himself recognizes the gap is insurmountable at this point in the season and recently said as much while also making a public plea for a rules change. Hamilton said:
“Red Bull are already focusing on next year because they’re so far ahead and don’t need to change this year’s car. So the FIA should set a time when everyone is allowed to start developing next year’s car. Say August 1, so that no one can get an advantage, because that sucks.”
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has sided with Red Bull and Max Verstappen. He told the Associated Press:
“If we go about what’s good and bad we’ll open the door. I mean, was it good for Mercedes? Fair enough? It is (Verstappen’s) time, it’s Red Bull’s time.
What do we do and punish the good kid? No, let’s go and make the other teams good. Nobody’s stopping the other teams from being better. We cannot punish people for being better, for trying harder. That is unfair.”
It doesn’t take a degree in rocket science to understand why Lewis Hamilton wants this rule change to slow Max Verstappen’s dominance. But the fix is simple for Mercedes, just devote more resources to the team.
There is nothing stopping Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes from working on next year’s car just like Red Bull, is there? The rules are applied evenly.
Seeing Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton go toe-to-toe next season would be incredible. Lewis and Mercedes should be focusing on closing the gap and not on please for rule changes.
On Twitter, people had a lot of thoughts. Someone used Arteta’s quote and joked “if I say what I think I’ll be suspended six months.”
Another person added “Was alright back in 2021 though wasn’t it?” followed by someone chiming in with “the irony.”
A common complain on social media is ‘why now?’ Why is FIA saying they won’t make rule changes *NOW* when they have done so in the past during Mercedes’ domination of the sport?