Motor racing-Ben Sulayem declares bid for second term as FIA president
MONACO - Mohammed Ben Sulayem will stand for a second four-year term as FIA president in December, saying he would welcome any rival candidate and that he is on a mission to grow motorsport and make Formula One's governing body stronger.
Speaking to Reuters at the Monaco Grand Prix, the Emirati said he had taken the decision, which was widely assumed, after conferring with members of the International Automobile Federation.
"I feel having three years in a complex federation like the FIA is not enough," the 63-year-old former rally driver explained, stating his re-election bid openly for the first time.
He said he was proud of what had been achieved under his mandate and saw no reason to do anything differently second time around.
"Do I need more time? Yes. Has it been easy? Never. Has it been enjoyable? Sometimes.
"So, I am going (to stand). I consulted with most of the members. I speak to them."
The Emirati said he wanted to "keep growing motorsport. To make the FIA stronger and stronger. This is my ambition and that's what I will do.".
He suggested the FIA, which ultimately owns the Formula One championship although the long-term commercial rights are held by Liberty Media, had been "neglected".
"Raw deals have been given to the FIA. It doesn't make sense to me that one (Formula One) driver and one team principal make more money than all of the FIA, and the FIA owns the championship. Is that fair?," he said.
Ben Sulayem's first term has been marked by controversy since he was elected in 2021 as successor to former Ferrari team boss Jean Todt.
There have been battles with Liberty Media over commercial matters and accusations of sexism, and he has angered drivers in both rallying and Formula One by clamping down on swearing with heavy fines.
Senior staff have left the FIA, leading to reports of an exodus, and there have been questions raised about statute changes that critics say will limit the powers of audit and ethics committees.
FIA PROFIT
On the plus side, the FIA last week reported a 4.7 million euro ($5.34 million) profit after reporting a loss of 24 million euros in 2021.
A new "Concorde Agreement" between all Formula One stakeholders is being negotiated and both the FIA and Liberty Media say talks are going well.
Former FIA secretary general for motorsport Shaila-Ann Rao, one of the high-profile departees, has returned as an advisor to the president, and Cadillac will join as an 11th team in 2026 after FIA backing in the face of initial F1 resistance.
"I cleaned up the FIA house," said Ben Sulayem, who recognised there were enemies who wanted him out but said that was of no concern.
"Honest people are there. My back is not anymore with knives in it.
"All of this negativity; 'Oh, he's unpredictable, he's very controversial'. I am the last one who cares what they (the critics and media) do, what they say. To me it is always about the (FIA) members.
"But I am more than happy. Maybe I am doing something that irritates them."
No rival candidate has committed to standing against the Emirati, although twice world rally champion Carlos Sainz -- father of the Formula One driver and namesake -- is considering doing so.
Ben Sulayem said he would be happy for Sainz to stand and it would be for others to decide on any potential conflict of interest.
"Let him stand. That is democracy," he said. REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
McLaren still flying despite Formula One's flexi-wing changes
McLaren's Australian driver Oscar Piastri (right) and Lando Norris (left) are sprayed with champagne while posing for a team photo after the Spanish Grand Prix. PHOTO: AFP The Spanish GP, ninth round of the Formula 1 World Championship was, according to some people in the paddock who don't wear papaya orange shirts, the race at which McLaren were Going To Be Found Out. When their super-flexible front and rear wings – supposedly the secret of their domination in 2024 and 2025 and their first world championship for Constructors' success since 1998 – were going to be outlawed once and for all. It was going to be the F1 equivalent of Samson's biblical haircut. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
8 hours ago
- Straits Times
Verstappen one point from a race ban after clash with Russell in Spanish Grand Prix
Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen in the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Spain race at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. PHOTO: EPA-EFE Verstappen one point from a race ban after clash with Russell in Spanish Grand Prix BARCELONA - Formula One world champion Max Verstappen is one penalty point away from a race ban after being punished for driving into Mercedes rival George Russell during June 1's Spanish Grand Prix. In addition to a 10-second time penalty, dropping the Red Bull driver from fifth to 10th, stewards handed Verstappen three penalty points on his super-licence. That took his tally to 11 for a 12-month period, with 12 points triggering a one-race ban. Two of those points expire at the end of June but there are two races before that. The Red Bull driver had clashed twice with Russell at the restart following a late safety car period at the Circuit de Catalunya. The pair made contact first at Turn One when Verstappen, who was defending fourth place on hard tyres against a rival on quicker softs, was pushed wide but stayed ahead. He was then told by Red Bull to hand back the place. Stewards noted Verstappen "was clearly unhappy with his team's request. "At the approach to Turn 5, Car 1 (Verstappen) significantly reduced its speed thereby appearing to allow Car 63 (Russell) to overtake," they added. "However, after Car 63 got ahead of Car 1 at the entry of Turn 5, Car 1 suddenly accelerated and collided with Car 63." 'Intentional retaliation'? The incident, as well as an earlier clash with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, triggered accusations of road rage and a return to the "Mad Max" days of old, before Verstappen's four world titles. "It looked like a very intentional retaliation. Wait for the opponent, go ramming into him, just like you felt the other guy rammed into you at Turn One," said Mercedes' 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg on Sky Sports television. "That's something which is extremely unacceptable and I think the rules would be a black flag, yes. If you wait for your opponent to bang into him, that's a black flag." McLaren's Lando Norris, who finished second, watched a replay in the cool-down room and commented: "I've done that before in Mario Kart." (From left) McLaren driver Lando Norris, second place, McLaren driver Oscar Piastri, pole position winner, and Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen, third place, pose after the qualifying session for the Spanish Grand Prix on May 31. PHOTO: EPA-EFE Russell told reporters he did not know what Verstappen was thinking. "It felt very deliberate. It is something I have seen numerous times in sim (video) racing and i-racing and never have I seen it in a Formula One race so that was something new," added the Briton. "It is a shame because Max is one of the best drivers in the world but manoeuvres like that are totally unnecessary. It lets him down and it is a shame for all of the young kids looking up to us, aspiring to be Formula One drivers. "It is something you see in go-karting but never in F1. It doesn't make sense to crash into somebody and risk damaging your own car and risk a penalty. And he could have come back to fight for the podium." Verstappen, who had accused Leclerc of ramming into him, accepted the two had different opinions. "I'll bring some tissues next time," the Dutch driver said when told of Russell's concerns. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
CNA
12 hours ago
- CNA
Piastri says Spanish win was just what he needed
BARCELONA : Formula One championship leader Oscar Piastri said winning Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix was just what he needed after losing out to McLaren teammate Lando Norris over the previous two weekends. "It's been a great year and this weekend's been exactly the kind of weekend I was looking for," said the Australian after his fifth win in nine races. "We executed everything we needed to when it counted and that's all you can ask for. The team gave me a great car once again. It's a lot of fun winning races at the moment." The victory, the seventh of the 24-year-old's career, stretched Piastri's lead over second-placed Norris to 10 points after the Briton reduced it to three with his triumph in Monaco last Sunday. Norris also finished second at Imola, the race before Monaco won by Red Bull's Max Verstappen, with Piastri third. The Australian led from pole position in Spain, the top slot on the grid secured by the biggest margin of the year so far, after also topping the practice times at the Circuit de Catalunya. "It's definitely up there," Piastri said when asked whether it was his strongest yet in Formula One. "I don't know if it's the best one, but certainly it's been a strong one. You know, it's pretty hard to complain with the results we've had this weekend. "Just the effort that's gone in, and analysing some of the things from last week that we could have done better - I think we turned it around very nicely and got back to the form we wanted to be on." Norris, winner of two races this year so far, said he did not feel he had lost anything. "I think Oscar drove a very good race today and had a good day yesterday. I had the pace to go with him but not enough to try and catch up and put him under threat," he said.
