The FIA has delayed until Monday the publication of the certificates of compliance with the cost limit for the 2021 season , after nothing was resolved on Wednesday.
That adds to the tension amid rumors that Red Bull and Aston Martin have exceeded the $145 million limit, and possible punishments include fines, suspension for one or more races, reduction of points, limits on aerodynamic tests and a reduction of the cost limit in the future.
But with how fractured the relationship between F1 and the FIA is (the latter, for example, came forward when announcing the provisional calendar for 2023) in the face of so many complaints about the inconsistency of the stewards, the public perception of the highest body is currently low.
However, the two-time F1 world champion, Fernando Alonso, has full confidence in the current president of the FIA, Mohammed Ben Sulayem , and in the organization’s willingness to learn, unlike what happened in previous seasons.
Asked by Motorsport.com how his confidence is in the FIA, the Alpine driver said: “Very high, to be honest.
“As I have said several times, I have a lot of confidence in Mohammed, the president, and his team. I think there are still some things that are improving on race weekends and consistency and other issues.
“They’re also willing to learn and improve, so that’s very positive maybe compared to the past.”
“In other things, outside of racing and outside of the track, I have full confidence in what they are doing and what the outcome of next week will be on the cost cap and how the sport is moving into the future. I have no doubts . about nothing”.
Notably, Alonso had clear-cut talks with Ben Sulayem after the Miami Grand Prix earlier this season, after accusing the stewards of “incompetence” in relation to his penalty for going off the track in a battle with Mick Schumacher.
Also speaking to the media this Thursday before the Japanese GP, Vettel said that it must be taken for granted that the governing body of any sport will be fair, since otherwise “everything that exists will falter”.
The four-time F1 world champion responded to Motorsport.com on his level of trust in the FIA: “We want to be treated fairly when we compete with others and judged for it.”
“You have to trust that there is a regulation that allows everyone to have the same opportunities to win.
“If you start to question that, I don’t know what’s next.”
“Our sport is also complicated. It’s not that simple. It’s not black and white a lot of the time, so it’s probably not an easy position.”
“On the other hand, this is a big business and it has to be controlled. It has to be controlled by an independent body, so you can’t think that that body is not independent or that it leans towards one of the parties.”
“So I think it’s a given that you have to trust the governing body.”
Sebastian Vettel has also had some brush with the FIA this season. The Aston Martin driver was handed a €25,000 fine for leaving the Austrian GP drivers’ briefing and for what was cited as “not living up” to the standard of being a “role model”.
