In the world of Formula 1, where speed and precision are the norm, the sport now appears to be teetering on the brink of an unprecedented crisis. The FIA, the international motorsport federation that regulates the sport, has inflamed people with a series of controversial decisions. The absolute low point came this week when FIA chairman Mohammed Ben Sulayem suddenly announced that the federation wants to launch its own F1 team. Not just an initiative, but a direct intervention in the competition, linked to new aerodynamic regulations that push the top teams into a corner. Max Verstappen, the four-time world champion at Red Bull, and other giants such as Mercedes and Ferrari, are loudly calling for the alarm. “This is a real power struggle,” Verstappen fumes. The fear is real: the fairness of the championship is at stake due to the power ambitions of the FIA ​​leadership.

Let’s rewind to the moment the bomb exploded. At a press conference in Paris, during a routine meeting of the FIA ​​World Motor Sport Council, Ben Sulayem stood up and unveiled his master plan. The FIA, which traditionally must remain neutral as a referee, would like to introduce its own team in F1 by 2027. Financed by the federation itself, with technology from its own laboratories and drivers from the FIA’s talent program. “This is the future of the sport,” declared Ben Sulayem with a triumphant smile. “We want to stimulate innovation and reduce costs for new teams so that the grid becomes more diverse.” Sounds noble, but critics see it as a smokescreen. Because at the same time he announced the new aerodynamic regulations, which will come into effect from 2026. These rules drastically limit wind tunnel and CFD testing for top teams based on their position in the Constructors’ Championship. Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari – the teams that dominate the sport – get fewer hours to optimize their cars, while smaller ones like Haas or Williams get more time.

The aerodynamic changes themselves are not new; they are part of the wider 2026 regulations package, which promises lighter, more agile cars with active aerodynamics. Wings that adapt for more downforce in corners or less drag on straights, similar to an advanced DRS. The FIA ​​presents it as a step towards more sustainable and exciting racing, with less dirty air behind the cars for better overtaking actions. But the timing and implementation raise questions. Why now, in the middle of a season in which the title battle between Verstappen and McLaren’s Lando Norris is still open? And why have your own team, while the FIA ​​should be the referee? “This is not regulation, this is competition,” grumbled Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff in an exclusive interview with Autosport. “The FIA ​​uses its power to give itself an unfair advantage. They know the rules in advance, test in secret and punish us with limited hours. It is a recipe for chaos.”

Max Verstappen, the Dutch sensation who has already won four titles in a row, is furious. In a rare emotional post on social media after the announcement, he warned: “This is a complete power struggle. The FIA ​​is playing with fire and putting the integrity of F1 at risk. As a referee you cannot suddenly become a player.” Verstappen, who has already been criticized this season for his defensive driving style and fines for swearing, fears that these changes will undermine his dominance. Red Bull, which is already struggling with reliability issues in 2025, would fall even further behind due to the testing restrictions. “We invest millions in R&D, and now the FIA ​​says: sorry, you can test less because you are too good? That is unfair and demotivates everyone.” His words resonate with the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), which sent an open letter to Ben Sulayem. “The neutrality of the FIA ​​is essential for the credibility of the sport,” they wrote. “Having our own team would create conflicts of interest that cannot be repaired.”

The top teams are joining the chorus of discontent. Ferrari, which already complained about the 2026 power unit rules, sees the aerodynamic restrictions as an attack on their expertise. Fred Vasseur, team principal at the Scuderia, called it “a gamble with the future of F1”. “We have worked hard on sustainable innovations, but when the FIA ​​favors itself, fans lose confidence.” McLaren, surprisingly the challenger this year, is more cautious but warns of a domino effect. Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, tweeted: “Innovation should come from teams, not the boss. This smells like abuse of power.” Even Liberty Media, F1’s commercial owner, is keeping a low profile, but sources report that they are lobbying behind the scenes for an independent audit.

What exactly are the risks? Experts warn of a ‘fairness crisis’. De F1 leeft van haar imago als meritocratie: de beste teams winnen door slimheid en investeringen. If the FIA ​​launched a team with access to insider information about rules and penalties, it would poison the sport. Imagine: an FIA car that falls just outside the rules, but is never punished. Of nieuwe aero-regels die precies passen bij de FIA’s eigen designs. “De eerlijkheid van het toernooi komt in gevaar”, zegt analist Karun Chandhok in een column voor Sky Sports. “Fans come for pure racing, not bureaucracy.” Economically, there is a threat of damage: sponsors such as Oracle and Aramco, who pump billions, could doubt the neutrality. And the calendar? Circuits like Zandvoort, where Verstappen comes home, fear boycotts from teams.

Ben Sulayem defends himself fiercely. In an interview with the FIA’s own channel, he emphasized: “This is not a power grab, but a rescue operation. F1 has too little diversity; we want to attract new players.” Hij wijst op de succesvolle introductie van Andretti als inspiratie, al strandde dat plan. But critics point to his history: the ex-UAE rally driver has already led controversies, from the 2021 Abu Dhabi fiasco to recent resignations at the FIA ​​leadership. Natalie Robyn, de ex-CEO die in 2024 opstapte, fluisterde over “structurele problemen” in de organisatie.

F1 is at a crossroads. Will the World Motor Sport Council block the plans? Or will this escalate into a breakaway series, like the GPWC in the 2000s? Verstappen, who defends his title in Singapore, insists: “I race for fair rules, not for politics.” While the engines roar on the track, things rumble behind the scenes. The question is: can F1 keep its soul, or will it be devoured by ambition? The fans are watching, and their patience is wearing thin. For God’s sake, what’s happening to our sport?