FIA officials barred from meeting over NDA refusal

Key figures successful Formula 1's governing assemblage the FIA were barred from a gathering of the organisation's satellite motorsport assembly connected Wednesday successful a quality with president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

Robert Reid, the FIA's lawman president for sport, and David Richards, the UK's representative, were among those denied entree aft refusing to motion a non-disclosure statement (NDA).

The papers forbids members from discussing matters pertinent to the FIA extracurricular authoritative meetings, BBC Sport has been told.

Insiders accidental Ben Sulayem demanded the caller NDA, a stricter signifier of a papers by which members were already bound, due to the fact that of his concerns astir leaks to the media.

Legal letters person been exchanged and the quality has raised questions arsenic to whether decisions made by the satellite assembly - including regarding rules for the forthcoming F1 play - volition beryllium legitimate.

The astir precocious illustration of these was the confirmed adoption of a mandatory minimum of 2 pit stops astatine the Monaco Grand Prix.

FIA statutes dictate members of the satellite motorsport assembly "may be immoderate meeting" and "have the close to vote".

Reid and Richards some refused to remark erstwhile approached by BBC Sport.

An FIA spokesperson said: "As is regular successful each organisations, including the BBC, the FIA implements procedures including non-disclosure agreements to guarantee confidential relationships betwixt each parties, to safeguard idiosyncratic information, and to support our regulatory interests.

"Unauthorised disclosure of confidential accusation undermines our quality to afloat fulfil our ngo and adversely impacts our capabilities to make revenues to enactment our subordinate clubs successful our shared nonsubjective of increasing motorsport participation, expanding accessibility, and cultivating innovation.

"The steps we person taken to sphere confidentiality person been overwhelmingly supported by a ace bulk of WMSC members."

Emirati Ben Sulayem has been the taxable of a bid of controversies since helium took bureau successful December 2021, including astir his views connected women, his approach to F1, changes to the statutes reducing accountability, the dismissal of a fig of elder figures and rule changes regarding F1 drivers' nationalist behaviour.

The FIA is besides the taxable of legal enactment from Susie Wolff, the caput of the all-female F1 Academy bid and woman of Mercedes F1 brag Toto Wolff, aft a compliance enquiry into the Wolffs was launched and past rescinded successful the abstraction of 2 days successful 2023.

Reid was a cardinal subordinate of Ben Sulayem's statesmanlike squad but the Scot, a erstwhile rally co-driver, has fallen retired of favour with the FIA president.

Ben Sulayem has, increasingly, successful caller months complained astir what helium perceives arsenic a bias against him by the British media, and Reid appears to person been lumped successful with this successful his mind.

Richards besides supported Ben Sulayem successful the predetermination successful 2021, but was vocal successful his absorption to the statute changes introduced past December.

Ben Sulayem is moving for re-election astatine the extremity of his archetypal word successful December this year. No-one has yet enactment themselves guardant to basal against him.

FIA insiders person speculated Ben Sulayem's actions connected the NDA could beryllium founded successful fears that antagonistic stories whitethorn look successful the media, oregon due to the fact that helium is readying further changes to the statutes astatine this June's wide assembly that would marque it hard for anyone to basal against him successful the election.