Lewis Hamilton is facing punishment for his no-show at the International Automobile Federation’s year-ending gala in Paris, the new FIA head Mohammed Ben Sulayem says.
The 60-year-old replaced Jean Todt as president this week and was immediately bombarded by questions on whether Hamilton had broken FIA rules by not attending.
“It’s easy to be nice to people. And it is cheap to be nice. And it’s also to motivate people. But definitely, if there is any breach, there is no forgiveness in this,” said Sulayem.
Hamilton and his Mercedes team were unhappy at the way FIA officials restarted the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi last weekend, giving Max Verstappen of Red Bull the chance to seize victory, and the driver title, in a one-lap sprint.
Hamilton, who received his knighthood this week, and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff chose to skip the gala even though Formula One rules say: “The drivers finishing first, second and third in the Championship must be present at the annual FIA Prize Giving ceremony.”
The new F1 boss said rules must be followed and he will look into the matter.
“At the end of the day, rules are rules,” said Sulayem.
“They are there to be improved but we have to look if there is any breach. It doesn’t stop us from making a champion feel good about the sport.”
“I have to look into it.”
He refused to comment on the details of the last-lap controversy with the safety car in his home Grand Prix.
“I have promised we will look into the rules and make sure that any situation of this sort that occurs in the future, we will have an instant solution for it,” Ben Sulayem said.
“We had a meeting with the drivers and I feel that what happened has been declared now. The FIA took a decision, we discussed it and there was a statement, and now we have to start the new season.
“We have to be proactive and reactive. I feel it is a time where as a driver I would be so upset for a while, but time is a factor that will cool. After the holidays and Christmas, in the new year we will start afresh.”
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