Robert Reid, the former FIA deputy president for sport, has doubled down on his dramatic resignation from last week, shedding new light on what he sees as a troubling lack of transparency and communication within Formula 1’s governing body.

The 2001 World Rally Championship co-driver, who served as second-in-command to FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem since their joint election in 2021, walked away citing “a fundamental breakdown in governance standards.”

Now, in a candid public post published on Substack, Reid pulls back the curtain on the internal function that drove him to quit, accusing the FIA of punishing dissent and stifling open dialogue.

Once a key ally in Ben Sulayem’s leadership team, Reid’s fallout with the president has been fueled by a string of controversies that have rocked the FIA. His resignation, announced ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix, sent shockwaves through the motorsport world.

Now, his latest statement reveals the personal and professional toll of challenging the FIA’s opaque practices, offering a stark warning about the future of the sport’s governance.

A Costly Stand for Principles

Reid’s Substack post is both a reflection and a rallying cry, emphasizing that his exit was driven by a commitment to integrity over loyalty to power.

“As I said in my initial statement, my decision to resign was not about personalities or politics. It was about principles. I took on this role with a clear mandate: to help lead a transparent, accountable, and member-led federation,” he wrote.

Yet, he found those ideals increasingly at odds with the FIA’s reality.

“I spoke up when I felt fundamental principles were being eroded. I did so respectfully, constructively, and always with the aim of safeguarding the integrity of our sport. But doing so came at a cost,” Reid admitted.

“It became clear that raising legitimate concerns was not always welcomed and I experienced firsthand how challenging the status quo can lead to exclusion rather than dialogue. I don’t regret speaking up. But I do believe I was treated unfairly for doing so.”

The Scot’s words paint a picture of an organization resistant to critique, where dissenters risk isolation. He noted the fear gripping others in the motorsport community, many of whom privately supported him but hesitated to speak out publicly.

FIA’s Reid resigns amid ‘breakdown of governance standards’

“It is interesting, but not wholly surprising, that many of those messages of support came with the caveat of not being willing to say anything publicly for fear of retaliation, which highlights some of the issues we face,” he revealed.

“I would never ask anyone to put themselves in what they feel is an uncomfortable position, be it through a letter of support or a social post showing clear endorsement, as I don’t feel that it would be fair to do so. From other quarters the silence has been deafening.”

Read also: Unfair Exclusion and Broken Trust

A pivotal moment in Reid’s disillusionment was his exclusion from a recent FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting, alongside Motorsport UK chairman David Richards, over a contentious non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

Reid clarified that he didn’t outright refuse to sign the NDA, as some reports suggested, but merely sought time to review its legal implications.

“I fully support the need for confidentiality and have personally been deeply frustrated at the number of leaks that undermine trust and effective governance,” he explained.

“I did not refuse to sign the NDA amendment, I simply requested a short extension in order to seek legal advice on a complex document governed by Swiss law, which was presented with a relatively short deadline. That request was denied.”

The repercussions, however, were swift and severe.

“As a result, I was excluded from the World Motor Sport Council meeting, in my view, both unfairly and unlawfully,” Reid stated. “10 days later, my FIA email was disabled without notice.

“Multiple requests for assistance and explanation went unanswered until, following a legal letter from my counsel, I was informed this had been a deliberate decision.”

This abrupt cutoff, coupled with the FIA’s silence, underscored the breakdown in communication that Reid sees as symptomatic of deeper governance flaws.

Reid also shared a journalist’s insight that struck a chord: “One journalist said to me that perhaps the FIA should be more concerned with why people are leaking than who is doing it and I think that’s worth reflecting on.”

The comment points to a culture where mistrust festers, driving insiders to leak information rather than rely on stifled internal channels.

A Call for Reform

Despite his ordeal, Reid remains steadfast in his commitment to motorsport’s future, vowing to uphold confidentiality while advocating for change.

“I want to be clear: I remain bound by confidentiality obligations and will continue to respect those legal responsibilities. I will not disclose information received in confidence or obtained in my official capacity,” he affirmed.

Yet, he urged the FIA to embrace a new path. “Leadership matters. Governance matters. And trust, once lost, is hard to rebuild. If motorsport is to remain credible and thrive into the future, it must be governed not by control, but by collaboration. Not by silence, but by accountability.”

Reid’s statement arrives at a critical juncture for the FIA, with Ben Sulayem facing mounting scrutiny as he prepares for a potential re-election bid in December 2025.

The resignation has fueled broader concerns about the organization’s direction, echoed by figures like Richards, who has accused the FIA of a “shift in the moral compass”.

Reid’s exit joins a wave of high-profile departures, including former FIA CEO Natalie Robyn, who recently warned of “serious ongoing structural challenges”.

For Reid, the fight is far from over. His Substack post signals a continued push for reform, urging stakeholders to demand the transparency and accountability he believes motorsport deserves.

As the sport grapples with its governance crisis, Reid’s principled stand serves as both a cautionary tale and a call to action for a more open and collaborative future.

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