Robert Reid, the FIA’s deputy president for sport who backed Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s successful bid for election in 2021, has resigned.
In a statement issued via social media Reid said the sport’s governing body “no longer reflects” his desire for “greater transparency, stronger governance, and more collaborative leadership.”
Reid’s announcement comes the day after Motorsport UK chair David Richards renewed his criticism of the FIA’s use of new confidentiality agreements which he described as a “gagging order.” Richards and Reid were excluded from a meeting of the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council for refusing to sign the order. Motorsport UK has warned the FIA it is considering legal action.
In his statement announcing his resignation, Reid made it clear his decision to resign was a matter of principle.
“After deep reflection, I have made the difficult decision to resign as FIA deputy president for sport,” he wrote.
“I took on this role to help deliver greater transparency, stronger governance, and more collaborative leadership. Over time, those principles have been increasingly set aside and I can no longer, in good faith, remain part of a system that no longer reflects them.
“Stepping away was not easy, however staying would have meant compromising what I believe in. This is about principles, not politics.
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“Motorsport deserves leadership rooted in integrity, accountability, and respect for process. That’s the minimum standard we should all expect, and demand.”
Reid, who was the World Rally Championship-winning co-driver alongside Richard Burns in 2001, joined Ben Sulayem on his presidential election ticket in 2021. He became deputy president for motorsport when Ben Sulayem won election in December that year.
The FIA acknowledged Reid’s departure, saying it is “grateful for Robert Reid’s contribution to the FIA, and to motor sport more widely.”
“The FIA has exceptionally robust corporate governance policies which guide our operations and ensure our rules, practices and processes are adhered to,” it added.
Richards, who said yesterday he hopes to meet with Ben Sulayem soon to discuss the ongoing row, defended Reid in his letter last month.
“Robert Reid […] was elected as the FIA deputy president for sport, and the promise that he would be empowered to work with the FIA executive team to drive the sport forward,” said Richards. “I think he has done an excellent job in this regard and made a positive impact worldwide.
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“Increasingly, actions have been taken which have undermined the proper functioning of Robert’s elected role; this includes being denied access to materials, banned from meetings and even attending world championship events. Again, this is not what we voted for.”
George Russell, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers Association, admitted he is concerned by the latest development at the FIA. Reid is the latest in a string of high-profile figures to leave the governing body, and Ben Sulayem has thrown the future of F1’s engine formula into doubt by pushing to revive the V10 engine format which the sport dropped 20 years ago.
“I don’t understand it, so I don’t know how I’m going to be able to explain it to the people at home, to be honest,” Russell told Sky.
“We’ve always said – at least myself personally, but as drivers as well – the sport is in the best place it’s ever been. There’s been many factors for that, but we also need such strong sort of governance from the FIA. F1 as well, managing their things, which they’ve been doing an amazing job of.
“We also can’t forget we are at the pinnacle of innovation and tech as well. Racing, it is entertainment, everybody watches to enjoy a good race on a Sunday, but our engines and the technology is going into road cars and the fuels and stuff. So you can’t just throw that out the window as well.
“So I don’t really know, there’s a lot of change going on and it is a bit concerning, but this has been ongoing now for months and months.”
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