Motor racing’s FIA governing body is set for continued turmoil after the resignation of its deputy president Robert Reid over what he reportedly called “a steady erosion of the principles we promised to uphold.”
Reid entered the role in 2021 alongside then newly-elected FIA president Mohammed Ben-Sulayem, but in the years since, his relationship with the body’s leader has deteriorated, with Reid pointing to “decisions are being made behind closed doors, bypassing the very structures and people the FIA exists to represent” as a core driver behind his resignation in a letter seen by UK media.
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In a statement posted on social media, Reid said: “I took on this role to help deliver greater transparency, stronger governance, and 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.”
Reid is the latest in a string of high-profile departures from the FIA over the last year that included the body’s race director Neils Wittich, lead stewart Tim Mayer, governance and regulatory director Pierre Ketterer, and head of commercial legal affairs Edward Floydd, representing major flight in both administrative, legal, and sporting regulatory personnel.
Though most of these departures have not been related, Reid’s statement points to a growing discontent within the FIA, particularly with Ben-Sulayem, who was investigated in 2024 over allegations of interfering in race officials' decisions – although he was cleared.
Ben-Sulayem has come under fire multiple times during his FIA presidency, including the revelation of historic sexist remarks, and in 2023, he claimed he had been the victim of a smear campaign against his name.
Natalie Robyn, the former chief executive of the FIA who departed in 2024 after just an 18-month stint, commented in UK media on Reid’s departure, saying: "The resignation of the deputy president of sport clearly indicates there are serious ongoing structural challenges.
"When professional processes are not adhered to and stakeholders are excluded from decision-making, it undermines the foundation of a strong organization. I am saddened to see these developments, as they threaten both the credibility and the long-term effectiveness of an important institution."
Ben-Sulayem and the FIA have also put themselves at odds with Formula 1 and its drivers, too.
In 2024 Mercedes driver George Russell, the head of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GDPA) representative body came out against the FIA, and in particular Ben-Sulayem, orging the FIA president to “consider his own tone and language when talking to our member drivers, or indeed about them, whether in public forum or otherwise.”
Russell’s statement, published in November, continued: “We once again request that the FIA President provides financial transparency and direct, open dialogue with us. All stakeholders (FIA, F1, the teams, and the GPDA) should jointly determine how and where the money is spent for the benefit of our sport.”
As expected, Russell was critical of Reid’s departure from the FIA, commenting on the “unstable direction the body is heading," and stating: “Unfortunately, I think every time we hear some news from that side of the sport, it's not really a big surprise."
"It's clearly a real shame to see somebody who's very well respected within the sport and been there for so long. It's a shame to see, and hopefully, we get more stability sooner than later."
Russell also took aim at the lack of transparency and consultancy between the FIA, F1, and the GDPA, adding: “We're getting to a point now where our actions are having little impact with those guys, and we've got to trust in the teams and Formula 1 to work with the FIA to come to a common ground.
"And if we can help, we want to be there, but often it just seems like things are going in their own direction."
The next race on the 2025 F1 calendar, the Bahrain Grand Prix, will take place on April 13 and will be the first of the current season that Ben-Sulayem attends in person, possibly preempting further acrimony.
