Is Ben Sulayem about to leave the FIA? 'Everyone thinks he's got to go'

The first race of the season is still over a month away, but there is already plenty of discussion going on in Formula 1. This time not on the track, but in the boardroom. Centre stage is Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the president of the international motorsport federation, the FIA.

Ben Sulayem is the subject of controversy lately. For instance, he got the teams angry, after a Tweet in which he claimed they were not enthusiastic about Andretti- Cadillac's entry into Formula 1. The biggest controversy arose after Ben Sulayem spoke out openly and again on Twitter about the sale of Formula 1. Liberty Media - the owner of the F1 circus - and the teams clearly let him know in a joint letter that they were anything but happy about it.

Not keen on intelligent women

Ben Sulayem's dislike has grown further in recent days after statements made by the Arab 20 years ago came out. On his website - which is now offline - he said back in the day he does not 'like women who think they are more intelligent than men, because they are not in truth'. An FIA spokesman immediately let it be known last week that these words 'do not reflect the president's beliefs'.

However, the harm had already been done. The BBC quotes an F1 team boss, on condition of anonymity. About Ben Sulayem's latest statements, he says: "There has been widespread disgust (among the teams)." Meanwhile, all the incidents are said to have led to F1 teams saying there is only one possible solution: Ben Sulayem must leave. "Everyone thinks he's got to go. That is definitely the general view."