F1: I Have Never Backed FIA Chief Mohammed Ben Sulayem, Says Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton said he has never supported Formula One바카라�s ruler Mohammed ben Sulayem 바카라� and believes the sport is sending out a 바카라�message that if you file a complaint, you will be fired바카라� amid the Christian Horner controversy. (More Motorsport News)

Ben Sulayem, elected as FIA president in December 2021, was cleared by his own organisation바카라�s ethics committee on Wednesday after he was accused of meddling with the result of last year바카라�s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and attempting to block the certification of F1바카라�s £500m Las Vegas Grand Prix on the Strip in November.

But four hours later, on another whirlwind day in the controversy-hit world of F1, Susie Wolff announced she has filed a criminal complaint against the FIA following the sporting federation바카라�s conflict of interest inquiry into her and husband Toto, the team principal of Hamilton바카라�s Mercedes team, in December.

Earlier this month, Christian Horner바카라�s accuser was suspended on full pay in the wake of Red Bull바카라�s investigation into alleged 바카라�inappropriate behaviour바카라� by the F1 team principal. The employee of the Milton Keynes team has since appealed against the decision to exonerate Horner.

Speaking ahead of this weekend바카라�s Australian Grand Prix, Hamilton was asked if 62-year-old Emirati Ben Sulayem remains the right person in charge of the FIA and if he still has his backing.

바카라�He never has,바카라� said Hamilton. The seven-time world champion was then asked for his thoughts on Wolff바카라�s decision to launch legal action.

바카라�Firstly, I바카라�m incredibly proud of Susie,바카라� said the seven-time world champion. 바카라�I think she is so brave, and she stands for such great values.

바카라�She바카라�s such a leader and in a world where often people are silenced, for her to be standing up sends such a great message.

바카라�There is a real lack of accountability here, within this sport, within the FIA.

바카라�There are things that are happening behind closed doors, there is no transparency, there is really no accountability and we need that. The fans need that. How can you trust the sport and what is happening here if you don바카라�t have that?

바카라�So, hopefully this stand that she바카라�s taking now will create change, will have a positive impact, and especially for women. It is still a male-dominated sport, and we바카라�re living in a time where the message is if you file a complaint, you will be fired, and that is a terrible narrative to be projecting to the world, especially when we바카라�re talking about inclusivity here in the sport. We need to make sure we stay true to the core values.바카라�

The probe into the Wolffs arose at the end of last year after a report in Business F1 magazine claimed that other team principals were concerned Susie바카라�s husband Toto was benefiting from information shared by his wife, who runs the all-female F1 Academy series.

Two days after the FIA announced its compliance department was 바카라�looking into바카라� the allegations, the federation said it 바카라�can confirm that there is no ongoing investigation in terms of ethical or disciplinary inquiries involving any individual바카라�. At the time, Susie, 41, described the allegations as 바카라�intimidatory and misogynistic바카라�.

And on Wednesday, she wrote on social media: 바카라�I can confirm that I personally filed a criminal complaint in the French courts on the 4th of March in relation to the statements made about me by the FIA last December.

바카라�There has still not been any transparency or accountability in relation to the conduct of the FIA and its personnel in this matter.

바카라�I feel more than ever it is important to stand up, call out improper behaviour and make sure people are held to account. Whilst some may think silence absolves them from responsibility 바카라� it does not.바카라�

The FIA has been approached for a comment.