Robert Reid, the FIA’s deputy president for sport and one of the most senior members of Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s presidential team, has resigned from his position with immediate effect over what he calls a “governance crisis” within the governing body.
The Scot (pictured at left, above) was a key part of FIA president Ben Sulayem’s election campaign in 2021 and has served as deputy president for sport since that time. However, following a number of controversies and departures from the governing body that cited a lack of transparency under Ben Sulayem, Reid has now become the most high-profile figure to resign, as the most senior sporting member working under the president.
In his announcement, the decision for Reid to resign is attributed to him “citing a fundamental breakdown in governance standards within motorsport’s global governing body,” while adding that Reid “expressed growing alarm over critical decisions being made without due process or proper consultation, both internally and with FIA members and the FIA governance bodies; Senate and World Motor Sport Council.”
Although he does not name Ben Sulayem in any of his own comments, Reid references FIA leadership requiring greater accountability, as well as the recent decision to internalize the promotion of the World Rallycross Championship (WRX) without Senate or World Motor Sport Council approval.
Reid called the latter change “the final breach of trust and due process,” as he believes it could leave the FIA at legal risk under European Union competition law.
“When I took on this role, it was to serve the FIA’s members; not to serve power,” Reid said in a statement. “Over time, I have witnessed a steady erosion of the principles we promised to uphold. Decisions are being made behind closed doors, bypassing the very structures and people the FIA exists to represent.
“My resignation is not about personalities; it is about principles. Motorsport deserves leadership that is accountable, transparent, and member-driven. I can no longer, in good faith, remain part of a system that does not reflect those values.”
In December, changes to the statutes concerning the ethics and audit committees were voted through despite criticism, while on Wednesday there was a further update from Motorsport UK chairman David Richards, who published a second open letter voicing his concerns about Ben Sulayem’s leadership.
Richards described his focus as being on “the very real concerns that have been expressed, not just by myself, but a growing number of people, that the governance and constitutional organization of the FIA is becoming ever more opaque and concentrating power in the hands of the President alone.”
Richards added that, while there are many achievements for the FIA to be proud of over the past three years, “we cannot allow a shift of the moral compass of our leadership to simply dismiss any request for transparency and open discourse.”
While Richards continues to call for a resolution to his concerns relating to confidentiality agreements, Reid also says he will remain involved in trying to influence change within the governing body.
“This is not the end of my service to motorsport,” Reid added. “I will continue to advocate for reform, transparency, and governance that respects the FIA’s members and the integrity of our sport.”
Ben Sulayem is due to make his first appearance at a Formula 1 race this season at the Bahrain Grand Prix, where a meeting relating to future power unit regulations has been scheduled.
The FIA has been approached for comment.
