Sébastien Ogier publicly apologized to FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem and Paraguayan President Santiago Peña for a remark made at Rally Paraguay.
Incident Summary
During the event a Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT driver retired early after two front‑suspension punctures. He later criticized the WRC’s current tyre supplier, Hankook, describing the tyres as “not the standard for a world championship” and likening the situation to a “lottery” that was “far from acceptable.”
Following the rally, Ogier met Ben Sulayem and discussed his concerns. He expressed regret over the timing and tone of his comments, stating that the meeting was constructive and produced clear targets for the sport’s future.
Official Statement
“After an eventful and very well organised Rally del Paraguay I would like to take the opportunity to publicly apologise for the out‑of‑line interaction with FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem and President of Paraguay Santiago Peña yesterday afternoon,” he wrote. “It was neither the right moment nor the right tone in which I raised my concerns about the championship.”
He added that he “had already had the chance to apologise to both Presidents in person last night, followed by a very constructive meeting.” The driver highlighted that the discussion helped him to address several areas needing improvement inside the WRC.
Impact on the Championship
The incident underscores ongoing criticism of Hankook’s performance during the season’s initial rallies. Ogier’s public stance and subsequent meeting with FIA leadership may influence future tyre procurement decisions and the WRC’s commercial strategy. As the season progresses, stakeholders will watch for any adjustments to the tyre partnership and the implementation of the new targets set at the meeting.
"