In the round-up: FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem says he is “overwhelmed” by the support of the governing body’s membership after being cleared over alleged interference in two rounds of last year’s world championship.
In brief
Ben Sulayem hits out at critics
Ben Sulayem said “the media try to massacre me and assassinate me” following the allegations over his actions at the Saudi Arabian and Las Vegas grands prix last year, which an FIA Ethics Committee cleared him of a month ago.
“I am active,” he told Grand Prix 247. “Look at the support. Go on the FIA website. I am overwhelmed by the support of the members.”
The FIA has published letters from three groups of member clubs in recent months declaring their support for Ben Sulayem. Some urged him to take legal action against those behind the claims. “It is the [FIA] members who put me here,” he said. “It is not the media, nor the drivers, nor the F1 teams.”
Ben Sulayem said his critics “don’t have the courage and the guts to come to me.”
“I can stand tall and look you in the eyes, as a sportsman for 40 years, there are rules that I respect. If I did not respect the rules, I would not be here.”
“I know who is behind it but I can’t say,” he added.
New Thai Grand Prix rumours
Alexander Albon may have a another home race in the future as Thailand has begun discussions over holding a round of the world championship.
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali met with Thai prime minister Srettha Thavisin to discuss the possibility of holding a race in the country’s capital Bangkok. Thavisin said his government is “ready to fully facilitate” a race in the country. “I sincerely hope that this trip to Thailand to explore the possibility of expanding the Formula 1 competition in Thailand will allow the company to gain insights and surveyed and studied the route that shows Thailand’s potential to host a Formula One competition.”
Thailand’s previous bid for an F1 race, which was originally supposed to take place on a street circuit in Bangkok in 2014, was scuppered by a military coup that year during which much of its constitution was suspended.
Thavisin’s appointment as prime minister last year was controversial. A businessmen with no prior experience in government, he took the role when the country’s powerful military acted to install a representative of the Pheu Thai party in charge, favouring the runners-up in the previous election over the victorious Move Forward Party.
No damage fears after Tsunoda’s car falls
RB say they have no concerns over potential damage to Yuki Tsunoda’s chassis after it appeared to be dropped a short distance by marshals at the Shanghai International Circuit. They were recovering his RB 01 after he was taken out of the race by Kevin Magnussen.
All soft for three races after Miami
Pirelli will bring its softest tyre mix for the three rounds which follow the next event in Miami. The C3, C4 and C5 tyres have been nominated for the Emilia-Romagna, Monaco and Canadian Grand Prix. This is the same nomination as last year, though the Imola race was cancelled.
Herbert alleges death threats in promotional quotes
Former Formula 1 driver Johnny Herbert, who was among the four-person stewards panel at the Australian Grand Prix, said he has received death threats from supporters of Fernando Alonso in reaction to his penalty at that race. Herbert’s quotes, reported elsewhere, were distributed by a casino which is seeking promotional links.
Bortoleto quickest as F2 test begins
Gabriele Bortoleto led the first day of Formula 2’s test at the Circuit de Catalunya in Spain. The Invicta driver’s best time of 1’25.143 put him three-hundredths of a second ahead of Jak Crawford for DAMS.
A cold, wet day greeted the drivers but conditions improved over the two sessions. Two red flag interruptions were caused by Ritomo Miyata and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the latter spinning off at the high-speed turn nine.
AI cars to race at Yas Marina
Four AI-controlled Super Formula racing cars will compete together on-track as the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League begins this weekend. Eight teams from Europe, the USA and the Middle East will take part in the event at the Yas Marina.
The overall winner will be decided by a series of events including the Lap Test, Speed Test and Overtaking Challenge. A separate event will also pit one of the autonomous machines against a real racing driver – ex-F1 racer Daniil Kvyat.