The FIA has postponed the release of cost cap compliance certificates for the 2021 season to Monday after initially expecting them to be issued on Wednesday.
This comes amid speculation that Red Bull and Aston Martin have surpassed the $145 million mark – for which available penalties include fines, event bans, point deductions, aerodynamic testing limits and a reduced future cost cap.
But with the relationship between F1 and the FIA fractured (the latter jumping the series to announce the provisional 2023 calendar, for example) and complaints about inconsistencies in governance, public awareness of the governing body is currently low.
However, two-time Formula One world champion Alonso says that unlike previous Premierships he remains fully confident in FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem and the organisation’s willingness to learn.
When asked by Motorsport.com about his confidence in the FIA, the Alpine driver said: “Very high to be honest.
“As I have said a number of times, I have great faith in Mohammed, President, and his team.
“I think there are still a few things about race weekends and the consistency and other issues that we face race after race that we are improving.
“They are also willing to learn and improve, so maybe that’s a very positive compared to before.
“In other things, outside of racing and off the track, I have full confidence in what they are doing and what the outcome will be next week in terms of cost cap and how the sport moves into the future. I have no doubts about anything.”
Drivers Parade, Fernando Alonso, Alpine F1 Team
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Notably, Alonso held talks with Ben Sulayem after the first Miami Grand Prix earlier this season after he accused the stewards of “incompetence” for fending off a penalty in a fight with Mick for going off the track at Schumacher.
Speaking to the media ahead of the Japanese GP on Thursday, Sebastian Vettel said it was “given the truth” to trust the governing body of any sport, otherwise it “shakes up everything that exists in your world”.
The four-time F1 World Champion addressed Motorsport.com about his trust in the FIA: “We want to be treated fairly when we compete against others and be judged on that.
“You have to trust that there are rules that give everyone the same chance of winning.
“When you begin to doubt that I don’t know what’s next.
“Our sport is also complicated. It is not so easy. It’s often not black and white, so it’s probably not an easy position to be in.
“On the other hand, it’s big business and it needs to be controlled. It has to be controlled by an independent body, so you can’t imagine that body not being independent or getting involved with either side.
“So, I think it kind of goes without saying that you have to trust the governing body.”
Vettel has also had arguments with the FIA this season. The Aston Martin racer was fined €25,000 on probation for leaving the drivers’ briefing at the Austrian GP and was found to have “failed to meet” the standard of being a “role model”.
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