In a shocking turn of events, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is facing fresh accusations from a whistleblower. The accusations claim that he allegedly instructed officials not to homologate the Las Vegas Grand Prix circuit. The BBC, who first reported on the allegations of interference in a Formula 1 race result last year, has now revealed further claims from the same whistleblower.

According to the BBC, the whistleblower stated that they were contacted by their manager, acting on behalf of the FIA president, who instructed them to find concerns in order to prevent the FIA from certifying the Las Vegas Grand Prix circuit before the race weekend. If the circuit had not been certified, the race would not have been allowed to proceed.

The Las Vegas Grand Prix was a highly anticipated event on the 2023 calendar, as it marked the debut of the race using a circuit that stretched along Las Vegas Boulevard and around the Sphere. F1 owner Liberty Media had heavily invested in and co-promoted the event, adding to its significance.

When contacted for comment, an FIA spokesperson responded to RACER, stating that the Las Vegas circuit approval followed FIA protocol in terms of inspection and certification. The spokesperson also mentioned that there was a delay in the track's availability for inspection due to ongoing construction works by the local organizers.

The FIA had previously confirmed that they were internally discussing the matter regarding the original allegation of a penalty given to Fernando Alonso at the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. However, this latest accusation of interference in circuit certification has brought further scrutiny to the FIA president.

As the investigation unfolds, the FIA's reputation and the integrity of Formula 1 racing are at stake. The allegations of interference in both race results and circuit certification raise questions about the fairness and transparency of the organization.

It remains to be seen how the FIA will address these serious accusations against its president and whether any further actions will be taken to ensure the integrity of future races and race results. Formula 1 fans and stakeholders eagerly await the outcome of the investigation and the steps that will be taken to safeguard the sport's integrity moving forward.