F1 News: FIA President calls for change in motorsport development
F1 News: FIA President calls for change in motorsport development
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is focusing on increasing access to karting and relaxing motorsport regulations in a bid to revive F1’s history in the future.
In a recent statement, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem emphasized the need to make karting available in the search for future Formula 1 stars. He noted the high costs associated with the sport and proposed standardized rules and simple techniques to reduce the financial burden of young participants. Key Learning Points:
Economy of karting: Ben Sulayem highlighted the huge cost of karting in developing future F1 talent. He proposed standardizing the requirements and simplifying the technology to reduce costs and increase access to the sport. Comparison to simple sports: The president lamented the complexity of car racing compared to sports like football, where the rules are simple and accessible. He expressed his desire to boost motor sports to develop its base. FIA’s financial problems: Ben Sulayem recently revealed the FIA’s financial problems amid his feud with predecessor Jean Todt. He discussed efforts to reduce operating costs from €30 million to €8 million, emphasizing a prudent, step-by-step approach to financial management. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has stressed the need for increased access to karting to help identify the next generation of F1 drivers. He emphasized the importance of this entry-level category, which includes all current F1, F2 and F3 drivers. According to Ben Sulayem, the cost of karting is very high and a season for a child can cost more than 275,000 euros.
“Who can afford to pay €275,000 [for one season] for a 10-year-old? It’s impossible.
“The strollers are very expensive. Therefore, we want to standardize the requirements and consequently reduce costs. Because we want to see motorsport thrive. “Formula 1, Formula 2 and Formula 3 drivers have all come from karting and that’s where we have to start.”
Comparing car racing to football, Ben Sulayem expressed his desire to simplify the sport. “There are simple rules: 11 players and one ball per team. But we have different rules. I want to change that.”
When discussing the financial situation of the FIA, Ben Sulayem revealed that he had previously been at odds with Jean Todt over the organization’s finances. He said the FIA had been operating at a loss for decades, with rising costs reaching €30m a year, but had managed to reduce them to €8m. However, this decline has not been without its challenges.
“You can’t cut everything. “It’s not healthy,” he said.
Lydia is the editor-in-chief of F1. After a few years in the sport, he managed to qualify directly for the British Grand Prix in 2017. Since then he has become addicted not only to the competitions, but also to the atmosphere that the fans bring to each event. She is a strong supporter of women in various fields, including motorsports.
