Key motorsport officials were reportedly barred from attending a critical FIA WMSC meeting after refusal to sign a newly proposed non-disclosure agreement (NDA).
The controversial decision has placed FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s leadership under renewed scrutiny, raising questions about governance, transparency, and the legitimacy of decisions made during the meeting.
The FIA WMSC meeting held on Wednesday coincided with the start of 2025 F1 pre-season testing in Bahrain. Among the major outcomes of the meeting was the ratification of a mandatory two-stop strategy for this year’s Monaco Grand Prix.
However, this decision and others made during the session have been overshadowed by the exclusion of two prominent officials: Motorsport UK chairman David Richards and FIA deputy president for sport Robert Reid.
Both were reportedly denied entry after refusing to sign an NDA that would have restricted them from discussing FIA matters outside official meetings.
According to a report from BBC, the NDA in question was described as a stricter version of confidentiality agreements already in place for members attending the FIA WMSC meeting. The document allegedly sought to prevent members from disclosing any information related to FIA business beyond formal council settings.
This move appears to have been driven by long-standing concerns over leaks within the organization—a problem that Ben Sulayem has publicly acknowledged in the past.
Speaking at last year’s Qatar Grand Prix, he lamented what he described as pervasive leaks within the FIA, likening it to “a roof with holes.” He vowed to implement measures to address the issue, which now seem to include tightening confidentiality protocols.
An FIA spokesperson defended the introduction of the enhanced NDA, stating that such measures are routine in organizations worldwide.
“As is routine in all organisations, the FIA implements procedures including non-disclosure agreements to ensure confidential relationships between all parties, to safeguard personal information, and to protect our regulatory interests,” the spokesperson told Racetrackmasters.com.
“Unauthorised disclosure of confidential information undermines our ability to fully fulfil our mission and adversely impacts our capabilities to generate revenues to support our member clubs in our shared objective of growing motorsport participation, increasing accessibility, and cultivating innovation.
“The steps we have taken to preserve confidentiality have been overwhelmingly supported by a super majority of WMSC members.”
Despite this justification, the exclusion of Richards and Reid has triggered significant backlash and legal challenges.
Reports suggest that legal letters have been exchanged following their barring from the FIA WMSC meeting, raising concerns about whether decisions made during the session could face challenges regarding their validity.
Critics argue that excluding officials over an unresolved procedural matter undermines the council’s credibility and could potentially jeopardize its governance framework.
Ben Sulayem’s leadership in the spotlight
The controversy also brings renewed focus on Ben Sulayem’s leadership style and his tenure as FIA president since his election in December 2021. His presidency has been marked by several high-profile disputes and allegations of internal discord.
Over the past 18 months, there has reportedly been an exodus of employees from the organization, with some accusing him of fostering a toxic work environment. Former steward Tim Mayer warned last year that the FIA was “running out of people” willing to take on key roles due to these issues.
Ben Sulayem has consistently denied accusations of improper behavior or mismanagement, dismissing them as baseless attacks aimed at undermining his leadership. He has also accused certain sections of the media—particularly British outlets—of harboring an “unfair bias” against him.
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In a recent interview, he criticized what he described as sensationalist reporting aimed at generating headlines rather than providing balanced coverage.
The controversial episode at the FIA WMSC meeting also adds another layer of complexity to Ben Sulayem’s presidency as he approaches the end of his first term in December 2025.
While he has announced his intention to seek re-election, no challengers have yet come forward. However, ongoing controversies such as this one could influence perceptions of his leadership among stakeholders within motorsport.
