Qatar Grand Prix: Formula 1 – live | formula 1

Let’s go to the introductory round! We are on the Lusail International Circuit.

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem urged Formula One drivers to mind their own business after questions about where money from racing fines was going and why senior figures had quit the governing body.

In an interview before today’s race, Ben Sulayem suggested riders stick to what they do best.

“Do we have to tell them? If something changes in the teams, will they tell us?” said Ben Sulayem when asked about the surprise departure of race director Niels Wittich ahead of last weekend’s title-deciding Grand Prix in Las Vegas. “We have the rules, we follow our rules. We don’t follow other people’s rules. It’s that simple.”

Wittich said he had not resigned and the FIA ​​had made no public explanation as to why he suddenly left, other than to say he wanted to pursue new opportunities. According to media reports, he was fired.

Mercedes driver George Russell, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), said on Thursday drivers wanted clarity and understanding about “what is going on and who will be fired next”.

Ben Sulayem, a former rally driver who was elected FIA boss in 2021, responded: “Are we telling them how to drive?” Are we telling them what their strategy should be? It’s none of their business. Sorry… I’m a driver. I respect the drivers. Let them go and focus on what they do best, which is racing.”

In response to the FIA’s crackdown on swearing, the GPDA issued a striking statement last month calling on Ben Sulayem to treat them like adults and be mindful of his own language when dealing with them.

They also called for financial transparency and said everyone involved, including drivers and teams, should work together to determine how and where money from the fines is spent – some suggested this could help fund professional stewards.

“They talk and then they say: Where are you putting the money? Why don’t we do that? I don’t say, ‘Oh, I’m sorry, what about you?'” Ben Sulayem said. “The drivers come to over 100 m. May I ask where they spend it? No. It’s up to you. It’s their right…we do whatever we do with the money. It’s our business. It’s also up to them and their money. It’s their business.”

Ben Sulayem said the drivers had his cell phone number and he had nothing to hide. He said he lives “for free” in the brains of critics in the media and doesn’t need them or care what people say. He also rejected any suggestion that the FIA ​​was in crisis under his leadership and was suffering an exodus of personnel.

Despite his attitude that it was none of your business, the Emirati later said that 10.3 million euros had been invested in grassroots single-seater racing last year.

“Do you really think I would waste the money? This is not commercial. This is members’ money and I was elected to protect it,” he said. He added that 64 employees joined the FIA ​​in 2023 and 92 in 2024. “I was elected to lead the FIA. and I’ll fix it. I am very satisfied with our new team. Very happy. I inherited an FIA ​​with operating costs of 23 million euros. And where is it now? This will be the first year we are plus.” Reuters

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen may already be our 2024 Formula 1 champion, but the battle for second place in the Drivers’ Championship and first place in the Constructors’ Championship is still very much alive in the penultimate race of the season.

Mercedes’ George Russell will start from pole position in Qatar after Verstappen was handed a one-place grid penalty for interference in qualifying. In the final laps of qualifying, Verstappen slowed in the third sector, forcing Russell onto gravel.

Verstappen’s alleged offense was “driving unnecessarily slowly” and after Russell gave his version of events, a decision was announced more than three hours after the meeting ended.

It wouldn’t be Formula 1 without drama, would it?

Verstappen’s score is 404 points. McLaren’s Lando Norris is second with 347 points and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc is third with 323 points.

Among the designers, McLaren is ahead with 623 points. Ferrari is in second place with 593 points and Red Bull is in third place with 556 points.

As always, if you have any thoughts, questions, predictions, complaints, or jokes you’d like to share, email me.