Recaps

Race Week Recap #45 – The Richards & Reid Edition

By Jeppe H. Olesen 5 min read
David Richards & Robert Reid in conversation in the Bahrain GP paddock

Hi friends,

I know the title of today’s recap sounds like an advertisement for a law firm, but I promise you it isn’t.

Top Stories of the Week: David Richards Takes Aim at the FIA, Robert Reid Resigns in Protest and Natalie Robyn Breaks Silence on FIA’s “Serious Challenges”

It’s a three-for-one this week.

David Richards, Chair of Motorsport UK and a member of the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council, published a public letter sharply criticising the governing body’s leadership and its increasingly centralised control. Former FIA CEO Natalie Robyn, who left her position a year ago, has spoken publicly about the “serious ongoing structural challenges” for the first time. And in a related—though perhaps even more dramatic—development, FIA Deputy President for Sport Robert Reid resigned from his post entirely, citing what he called a “fundamental breakdown in governance standards.”

All of this happening at the same time? It’s oddly coincidental. Some might even say it’s coordinated.

Let’s begin with Richards.

In his open letter, Richards accused the FIA of a shift in moral compass under President Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s leadership, raising concerns about transparency, accountability, and the erosion of democratic processes. His main complaint? A newly revised confidentiality agreement that, in his words, amounted to a “gagging order.“ The new agreement, unlike the one he signed in 2021, gave the FIA sweeping powers to define what’s confidential, determine breaches unilaterally, and issue immediate fines of €50,000.

Richards refused to sign—and was subsequently barred from attending a World Motor Sport Council meeting, a move he says is unlawful under French law and violates FIA statutes. “This is not how a member-owned and driven organisation should behave,” he wrote. He also highlighted that other members were allowed to negotiate their own versions of the agreement, while he was not.

In response, FIA General Manager Alberto Villarreal sent Richards a letter defending the President and the confidentiality policy, describing it as standard practice and denying that it constituted a gagging order. He also praised the President’s leadership, citing improvements in financial performance, diversity, and sustainability, and called on Richards to abide by the same standards as other Council members.

Then came Robert Reid’s resignation.

Reid—who served as Ben Sulayem’s deputy since 2021—announced he was stepping down, citing growing concern about decisions being made “without due process or proper consultation.” His statement was clear: “When I took on this role, it was to serve the FIA’s members, not to serve power.”

Reid’s frustration had been building for some time, but he said the “final breach of trust” came with the FIA’s recent decision to take the promotion of the World Rallycross Championship in-house—without Senate or Council approval. According to Reid, that move violated FIA policy, carried legal risks under EU law, and broke previous commitments to avoid conflicts of interest in commercial activities.

One of the most respected figures in the organisation has walked away—publicly and on principle.

The FIA hasn’t issued a formal statement in response to Reid’s departure. Ben Sulayem remains in office and, at this point, is running unopposed for re-election in December. But according to reports, a potential challenger is quietly preparing a campaign.

And now, another major voice has joined the chorus. Former FIA CEO Natalie Robyn, who left the organization in May 2024 after just 18 months, has broken her silence—and she’s not holding back.

Robyn was the FIA’s first-ever chief executive, brought in to modernise the organisation’s internal structure and business operations. At the time of her exit, the FIA said she left “by mutual agreement.” In reality, she was forced to resign after clashing with the President over governance practices and financial transparency—specifically around the President’s office.

Robyn’s concerns echo those of both Richards and Reid—and they add to a mounting list of senior departures. Since Robyn’s resignation, the FIA has also dismissed the head of the audit committee, Bertrand Badré, committee member Tom Purves, and the FIA’s compliance officer Paolo Basarri—who had investigated whistleblower allegations of interference in F1 races. Basarri was fired in November 2024.

If this all sounds familiar, it should. The FIA has been under fire for months, facing lawsuits, whistleblower allegations, and criticism from across the motorsport world. The most high-profile of those is Susie Wolff’s ongoing legal action after a short-lived investigation into her and her husband Toto Wolff late last year.

So, where does this leave the FIA?

Richards says he still hopes to meet Ben Sulayem face-to-face to find a resolution. But with legal action on the table, two open letters published in just over a month, a high-ranking official resigning in protest, and a former executive publicly criticising the leadership, the situation looks more volatile than ever.

This is no longer just an internal governance dispute—it’s a public crisis of confidence in motorsport’s highest body. And as the election approaches, pressure is building.

It’s also shaping up to be a potentially historic moment. In the FIA’s modern era, it’s rare for a sitting President to face a serious challenge during their first term—let alone one sparked by members of their own leadership team. Traditionally, incumbents run unopposed and enjoy broad support from the national clubs that make up the FIA’s voting base. If a challenger does emerge in the coming months, it would mark a major shift in how power is contested at the top of motorsport governance.

The Rest of the Stories This Week:

That’s it for this week, thank you for being here.

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Jeppe H. Olesen

I write things about motorsports.