Motorsport UK chairman accuses FIA of lack of transparency, ‘shift of the moral compass’

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In response to a letter from Alberto Villarreal, the general manager of the FIA, David Richards, the chairman of Motorsport UK, wrote in an open letter to Motorsport UK members Wednesday that he felt there was “disregard for the very real concerns” raised by Richards and others “that the governance and constitutional organisation of the FIA is becoming ever more opaque and concentrating power in the hands of the President alone.”

“There are many things to be proud of that the FIA team in Geneva have achieved over the last three years,” Richards wrote. “But we cannot allow a shift of the moral compass of our leadership to simply dismiss any request for transparency and open discourse.”

The FIA did not immediately respond to The Athletic’s request for comment.

Richards’ open letter comes after multiple events that have signaled a rift between the Motorsport UK executive and the FIA. Richards was barred from attending an FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting earlier this year when he wouldn’t sign a new confidentiality agreement, which he “regarded as a ‘gag order.’” He had already signed a confidentiality agreement when he was appointed to the council in 2021, which “was already bound by Article 4 of the FIA Code of Ethics,” and there were clauses he objected to in the new agreement. He penned an open letter on March 5 detailing his concerns about the key clauses and concerns about the FIA and included that they “informed the FIA that unless they address the issues we’ve raised, we will be engaging in further legal action.”

Villarreal wrote to Richards on April 7 and said, “Such agreements are very much a standard part of business,” adding that sharing information damages the governing body and “undermines our ability to fulfil our mission to member clubs.”

Villarreal noted that “a super majority” of members of the World Motor Sport Council supported “steps the FIA has taken to preserve confidentiality.” Therefore, he wrote, “We struggle to understand your (Richards’) reluctance to be bound by the same terms and conditions as your fellow members, given you acknowledge the damage the numerous leaks from the World Motor Sport Council have made to the FIA’s mission.”

“As a responsible member of the Council and someone who operates with integrity, I trust that you could have no reasonable objection to an agreement which simply serves to reinforce existing duties of confidentiality, and which is in line with best practice for an organisation of the FIA’s responsibilities and standing,” Villarreal continued in his letter to Richards. “There is no question of this being a ‘gagging order’ as your letter characterises it.”

Richards doubled down on his “gagging order” comment in his Wednesday letter. His core issue, he wrote, is “with a requirement to sign an amended confidentiality agreement that doesn’t contain a clear procedure for evaluating a breach nor an independent process in the event of a dispute.” Additionally, he alleged that barring him from the meeting “is in contravention with the FIA Statutes and unlawful under French law.”

The Motorsport UK chairman wrote he hopes the parties can “have a sensible discussion” with the FIA’s legal counsel “and resolve these points.”

“They are not insurmountable, but as currently written they are wholly inappropriate,” Richards wrote. “So much so that various other parties have expressed the same concerns which has resulted in adaptations to the agreements that they have signed. That opportunity has not yet been afforded to me.”

Richards ended his latest open letter expressing the hope of meeting with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, as he is in the Middle East. Formula One will race in Bahrain this weekend.

Ben Sulayem, who was appointed FIA president in December 2021 and has been involved in multiple controversies in recent years, is up for re-election this year and currently is unopposed.

(Photo of David and Karen Richards: Mark Thompson / Getty Images)

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