Ben Sulayem, whose time as FIA president has been marked by controversy around issues such as removing checks and balances in the organisation’s governance, said: “I will be speaking to him. I said to him, I saw him very sad, and I said, ‘Fernando, I understand, it’s not acceptable that you are coming to your own country and now after two times a world champion…’

“We did something earlier, in May, legally for the team towards the engine to go and improve, and then I said to him: ‘I am not going to tell you what we are going to do. Please tell me what you want because you are the driver and come and tell me what do you want us to do to improve these results.'”

An FIA spokesperson said Ben Sulayem was referring to F1’s additional development and upgrade opportunities (Aduo) system.

This gives engine manufacturers whose power-units are assessed to be more than 2% behind the best chances to upgrade its design.

“It is a comment about the Aduo process and that he hopes Fernando Alonso stays in the sport,” the spokesperson said. “That is all.”

Pressed on the fact that Ben Sulayem appeared to be suggesting he could intervene to make changes in a way that could be considered as overreaching his position as leader of an organisation that has a role to independently and objectively administer, the spokesperson said: “He is passionate about the drivers, having been one himself, and I really would not read too much into this.”