In a recent development, the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) has disclosed that its compliance officer has received two complaints outlining potential allegations involving certain members of its governing body. While the FIA did not provide specific details about the allegations or mention any names, it is believed to be in reference to whistleblower claims against the president of Formula 1's governing body, Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

According to a report by the BBC, Ben Sulayem is alleged to have intervened to overturn a penalty given to Fernando Alonso during last year's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The whistleblower also claims that Ben Sulayem instructed officials not to certify the Las Vegas circuit for its high-profile race in November. These allegations have prompted the FIA's Compliance Department to assess the concerns and ensure due process is followed meticulously.

The FIA, however, expressed its disappointment that the matter was disclosed to the media without prior authorization and certain elements of the report were inaccurately reported. It emphasized the importance of maintaining confidentiality during such investigations.

This development comes on the heels of a separate incident where Red Bull's team principal, Christian Horner, was investigated over allegations of misconduct involving a team employee. The allegations were ultimately dismissed just before the season-opening race in Bahrain, which was won by Red Bull's Max Verstappen.

The focus has now shifted to the allegations against Ben Sulayem, who has faced intense scrutiny during his tenure as FIA president. The whistleblower is believed to be a former FIA employee who now works for Formula One Management. The allegations against Ben Sulayem appear to be part of an ongoing power struggle between the governing body and Formula 1 itself.

Ben Sulayem has faced previous accusations, including downplaying F1's commercial value and blocking agreements between teams and F1 rights holder Liberty Media. Additionally, he has recently raised questions about potential conflicts of interest involving Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and his wife Susie, who runs the all-female F1 Academy. The FIA launched a compliance inquiry into the Wolffs but dropped it shortly thereafter. The Wolffs are considering legal action and vehemently defending their integrity.

While the FIA has not clarified the trigger for the investigation into the Wolffs, it has maintained that a formal complaint is required to initiate an inquiry. Similarly, the lack of a complaint against Horner has been cited as the reason behind the absence of an investigation into his alleged misconduct.

The latest allegations involving Ben Sulayem suggest that he called Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the FIA's vice president for sport in the Middle East and North Africa region, to request the rescinding of a penalty against Alonso. Furthermore, it is claimed that Ben Sulayem instructed race stewards to find fault with the Las Vegas circuit in order to withhold the license for its debut race, resulting in significant delays and financial repercussions for Ferrari.

It remains unclear why Ben Sulayem would have sought to undermine the Las Vegas Grand Prix, especially considering the substantial investment made and the successful race it eventually produced.

With the FIA currently assessing the complaints against certain members of its governing body, attention will undoubtedly be drawn to the outcome of this investigation. The allegations and ensuing inquiries highlight the complexity and challenges faced by F1's regulatory body and its efforts to maintain fairness and integrity within the sport.

As the F1 season continues and Saudi Arabia prepares to host its race this weekend, the outcome of these investigations will undoubtedly impact the landscape of the sport and its key players.