The president of the FIA faces potential legal action due to the WMSC controversy.

      The FIA is becoming increasingly mired in controversy as Motorsport UK chairman David Richards has released a harsh open letter, threatening legal action against the organization and its troubled president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

      Richards, a prominent figure in the Formula 1 paddock, refers to an "erosion of accountability and good governance," following a recently contentious World Motor Sport Council meeting where he and FIA deputy president for motorsport Robert Reid were excluded after declining to sign a stringent non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

      While the FIA maintained that the NDA was a standard measure for ensuring confidentiality, Richards’ letter, published in Motorsport UK’s online magazine, presents a markedly different perspective.

      "The breaking point came when the president attempted to impose what essentially became a gag order on WMSC members, threatening immediate fines of 50,000 euros for any violations," he stated.

      He accused Ben Sulayem of going back on his commitments to transparency and a hands-off leadership style promised during his 2021 campaign, adding: "Over the past three years, there has been a clear failure to uphold these promises, with conditions steadily deteriorating."

      Richards’ legal threat casts further doubt on the validity of decisions made at the February meeting, including a new regulation requiring two-stop strategies for the 2025 Monaco GP.

      This unrest arises at a crucial moment for Ben Sulayem, who may face challenges in the FIA presidential elections set for December. There are growing rumors that Susie Wolff, head of the all-female F1 Academy series and wife of Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, could run against him.

      Speculation about her candidacy intensified after 1996 Formula 1 world champion Damon Hill publicly supported her, stating on Instagram that she would be "perfect" for the position.

      Wolff’s potential campaign follows a contentious encounter with Ben Sulayem in 2023, when he initiated a brief conflict-of-interest investigation into her and her husband—a move she labeled as "intimidatory and misogynistic," which led her to file a criminal complaint against the FIA in France.

      Italian publication Autosprint has indicated that the investigation may have been a preemptive action by Ben Sulayem, who was reportedly aware of Wolff’s rumored presidential intentions.

      An FIA spokesman dismissed the recent upheaval, asserting that the NDA was "overwhelmingly supported" by others. Nevertheless, Richards’ letter hints at a larger discontent brewing, with the Motorsport UK chairman expressing concern over an "exodus of senior members and volunteer officials" during Ben Sulayem’s leadership.