FIA president hits back at bias claims: 'They think we're against the British'

The Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort has just concluded with a heavy crash from Max Verstappen on the opening lap, but the most controversial aspect was not the Dutchman's retirement, but rather the two drive-through penalties handed out by the FIA stewards to Franco Colapinto (Alpine) and Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls). Both were judged to have overtaken another car under yellow flags waved after Verstappen's incident. Immediately, a wave of criticism from Argentine fans – Colapinto's home country – and from the driver's own camp targeted the FIA, with accusations that the world's most powerful motorsport governing body was biased, even 'against the British'. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem spoke at a press conference during the FIA General Assembly in Buenos Aires, where he directly rejected all bias accusations. 'We hear from Argentina that we are against them, and from Britain that we are against the British. That shows we are doing it right – because if both sides are unhappy, it means we are not taking anyone's side,' Ben Sulayem said. He also confirmed he would personally call Colapinto to explain the stewards' decision, a rare move from the FIA's top official. The incident originated from the first-corner crash of the race, when Verstappen lost control and hit the barriers, forcing race organizers to wave yellow flags immediately. According to F1 sporting regulations, when yellow flags are shown, drivers must slow down and absolutely must not overtake. However, Colapinto and Lindblad, who were behind, overtook another car in the yellow-flag zone. Both denied intentionally violating the rule, claiming they did not see the signal in time or had slowed sufficiently. Nevertheless, the stewards upheld their decision, based on telemetry data and video confirming the overtaking maneuver occurred within the yellow-flag zone. Notably, the reaction from the Argentine public was intense. Colapinto, a young Argentine driver racing for Alpine, is a source of national pride. An executive from Colapinto's main sponsor publicly questioned the FIA's integrity on social media, calling the penalty unfair and politically motivated. This prompted Ben Sulayem to defend the organization's reputation, while also committing to a direct call with the driver to clarify any misunderstandings. However, Ben Sulayem also revealed that he had received similar complaints from Britain, where fans and media claimed the FIA was 'against British drivers'. This created an ironic situation: both sides accused the FIA of bias in opposite directions. For Ben Sulayem, this was evidence that the FIA was not favoring anyone, and that criticism was merely a consequence of stewarding decisions always disappointing one side. From a governance perspective, this incident prompted the FIA to announce a reform plan for its steward selection process. Under this plan, member clubs (ASNs) will be asked to nominate potential steward candidates, after which the FIA will organize training and rotate stewards across race weekends. The goal is to increase regional diversity and ensure consistency in decisions. Ben Sulayem emphasized that this is an institutional reform, not a reaction to a specific incident, but the timing of the announcement right after the Zandvoort controversy suggests public pressure forced the FIA to act. Notably, this is not the first time the FIA has faced bias accusations. Earlier, after a Miami steward received death threats, the FIA launched an anti-online-abuse campaign. However, this case has a different dimension: it involves two young drivers, one Argentine and one British, and quickly escalated into a narrative about nationality discrimination. This highlights the sensitivity of stewarding issues in an increasingly globalized F1, where every decision is scrutinized through a national lens. On the drivers' side, both Colapinto and Lindblad expressed disagreement with the penalties but made no official appeal. This could be because they understand that appeals rarely change outcomes, and the risk of straining relations with the FIA is not worth it. However, Argentine public opinion remains highly agitated, and Ben Sulayem's call to Colapinto may be an attempt to cool down the situation. From a strategic perspective, this case raises big questions about how the FIA manages its image and public trust. In the era of social media, every stewarding decision can become a global talking point within hours. Ben Sulayem's choice to directly engage with the driver and announce reforms is a wise step, but whether it will be enough to soothe doubts about the FIA's fairness remains a big question mark. Another notable point is the reaction of the teams. Alpine and Racing Bulls both sided with their drivers but made no official moves against the FIA. This suggests teams understand that publicly opposing the governing body could disadvantage them in other matters, from technical to financial. Instead, they chose to express support through unofficial channels, such as the sponsor executive's post for Colapinto. In terms of data, this case provides no information about car performance or race strategy. However, it highlights an important aspect of modern F1: off-track decisions can strongly impact the image and psychology of drivers, especially young ones trying to establish themselves. Colapinto, with strong backing from Argentine media and sponsors, could turn this incident into motivation to prove himself. Meanwhile, Lindblad, a young British talent, may face pressure from his own home fans if they view the penalty as part of 'discrimination'. Ultimately, this story raises a big question: Can the FIA maintain fairness and transparency in the face of increasing pressure from nations, teams, and fans? Ben Sulayem has taken initial steps with steward process reforms, but that is only the beginning. If the FIA wants to retain trust, it must demonstrate that every decision is based on data and regulations, not influenced by any faction. And as Ben Sulayem himself said, when both sides are unhappy, perhaps that is the best sign they are doing it right.