The president of Formula 1’s governing body denied ordering a recent wave of staff dismissals that included the removal of the race director with three events remaining in the season.

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has told Formula One drivers to mind their own business after they asked where money from race fines was going and why senior figures had left the governing body. In an interview with Reuters ahead of Sunday's Qatar Grand Prix,

A defiant FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has dismissed talk of turmoil within the governing body, and told Formula 1 drivers it is “none of their business” how he runs things. Ben Sulayem has found himself under the spotlight recently in the wake of a host of high-level departures from the FIA – which has included F1 race director Niels Wittich.