Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), has claimed that the media has attempted to ‘massacre and assassinate’ him, insisting that he does not care about the approval of Formula One (F1) drivers and teams following a turbulent spell in office so far.
Ben Sulayem was elected to succeed Jean Todt as FIA President after the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but his popularity among key figures in F1 has declined over the past 12 months due to a series of controversial events.
One of the most contentious incidents was the decision to investigate F1 Academy director Susie Wolff following a BusinessF1 magazine report that claimed rival team leaders had expressed concerns about reports of confidential information being passed on to her husband, Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team principal.
Wolff strongly denied the claims and received the support of the entire F1 grid, with all teams posting coordinated statements. The investigation was subsequently dropped, but the debacle significantly damaged Ben Sulayem’s reputation.
The saga also led to Lewis Hamilton publicly distancing himself from Ben Sulayem. After expressing his support for Wolff after she filed a criminal complaint ahead of the Australian Grand Prix, the Mercedes driver was asked if the FIA president still had his support. He replied: ‘He never has.’
Ben Sulayem also faced the FIA Ethics Committee after whistleblower reports suggested that he had used his powers to attempt to influence the race result of the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, as well as pushing officials not to certify the Las Vegas circuit ahead of its inaugural race. He was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing on both counts.
Discussing the opposition he has faced, Ben Sulayem told GrandPrix247: ‘Look at me, the media try to massacre me and assassinate me. It is unnecessary but I am standing tall. When there are issues, it is good to look into them, when there are lies and fabricated rumors… not in our sport.’
‘At the end of the day, the sport needs fairness. You know what I have been through in the last two years. It is like a rotation every year. And then what? What is left of these rumors and fabrications?’
‘I am active. Look at the support. Go on the FIA website. I am overwhelmed by the support of the members. One thing people have to understand: It is the [FIA] members who put me here, it is not the media, nor the drivers, nor the F1 teams.’
Despite the controversies and opposition he has faced, Ben Sulayem insists that he has the support of the FIA members who elected him and is determined to continue his work.
