Why Mohammed Ben Sulayem believes his mission to create a strong FIA is so important

He’s quite a character. Since taking office, Mohammed Ben Sulayem has been nothing like his predecessor. Whereas Jean Todt preferred to keep a low profile and shunned the media, the new FIA president isn’t afraid to speak his mind – not least when it comes to the patrimony he was handed by his predecessor. In fact, he makes it pretty clear that he’s not too impressed with what he’s inherited.

His style is not to everyone’s taste. And it’s fair to say that in the two years he’s been at the helm, he’s upset quite a few people in the F1 paddock. There are those who believe that the championship will be better off without the FIA and its new, often combative, Emirati president – and, for the first time in a decade and a half, there’s talk of a breakaway series.

Yet he’s also made it clear that he’s not there to be liked. He says he wants to reposition the FIA and insists he’s there to defend the interests of the sport, not business. He was the main protagonist behind the push to expand the grid – despite clear opposition from Formula One Management (FOM) and the existing teams.

Like anyone with an agenda, he’s easy to interview – because he doesn’t need to be asked tricky questions to give strong answers. He will steer the conversation in the direction he wants it to go and won’t be bashful in talking about his own achievements, or his views on the role of the FIA.

GP Racing sat down with Ben Sulayem in Abu Dhabi, a few hours before the final race of last season, to talk about his racing career, his first two years in the president’s chair, and his vision for the future of the FIA and F1. This interview was originally published in the March issue, before an investigation - that subsequently cleared Ben Sulayem of any wrongdoing - was launched into two claims made by a whistleblower that he interfered with championship officiating.

GP Racing: Mr President, let’s start by talking about your path in racing. Where did your passion for motorsport come from?

Mohammed Ben Sulayem: I’ve always loved speed. As a kid
I remember watching the speedometer, watching the driver and what he was doing with the pedals – and somehow it always made me feel good. I started driving when I was 10.

Ben Sulayem was appointed president of the FIA in December 2021

Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images

In the summer we used to go to the desert for a few months. And I remember my father would come from the government, and he’d sleep in the afternoon – and then I’d ‘borrow’ the car. I’d push the car out of the parking space so that the driver wouldn’t hear it – I don’t know how I found the strength to
do that – and then I’d slowly reverse it and go for a drive.

And then I’d come back and put the car in exactly the
same position so nobody would notice. But, of course, there would be less fuel in the tank, so eventually they found out. But it took them a long time to figure out that it was me
who was taking the car.

GPR: Being a racing driver in those days wasn’t a very prestigious career, to say the least, in the region, was it?

"When someone says 'I want to break the record', it means that I am the target. And if I am the target, then I’m somebody! So let them do it"
Mohammed Ben Sulayem

MBS: I was kind of a pioneer when I started. Of course, people didn’t accept the sport. If my father were alive, I don’t think he would have allowed me to follow this path. But I’m sure he would have been very proud of me now. Perception has changed.

Like in other countries, once you have a hero, a champion, it becomes popular. So it was me who pushed those boundaries. But then, when I started winning, the whole thing turned around. Now people had a hero... because we weren’t doing very well in football and other sports, so I was maybe the only sports hero or champion for many years.

GPR: You are a 14-time Middle East Rally champion. Nasser Al-Attiyah is getting close now to that record…
 
MBS: Records are there to be broken. I’m proud to hold this record. And when someone says “I want to break the record”, it means that I am the target. And if I am the target, then I’m somebody! So let them do it. If they break the record, then somebody else will be motivated to go and break that record.

When I remember those days now, I’m shivering. We used to do up to 240km/h on gravel in the desert. 240 over blind crests. If someone comes from the other side, it’s the end...

Ben Sulayem competed in rallying with great distinction

Photo by: Motorsport Images

Once I won, I never looked back. Ever since I won the Middle East Rally Championship, I’ve never lost again. But the event I will always remember, the one that’s engraved in my mind and heart, is 1988. I had a car accident that year and broke my neck, C5 and C6 [vertebrae]. And I couldn’t go to Oman, one of the toughest three-day rallies.

I went to Germany, to a professor who said he could help me. They had to graft a bone, my vertebrae were gone and they had to drill holes and put in titanium pins. But I was still leading the championship, even after Oman, and the next race was in Dubai, my home race. My doctors gave me hope. Hope that I could have lived without!

I asked as if I was joking, which I wasn’t, “Can I drive?” And the German professor said, “I can put you in the cast, but will you take the pain?” I said, “Of course.” But my vertebrae were destroyed, and the disc was gone, and all the load had to go on my nerves. And they put me in the cast and, so that I could see where I was going, I had to tilt my seat – and I could drive.

I remember I had the certificate from him that I’m stable here [points to his neck]. But I probably wasn’t here [points to his forehead]. Anyway, I took part in the rally and won it. So, I won the championship. And I still remember, before one of the stages, a marshal came up to me and said: “Excuse me, champion, but you shouldn’t do that. It’s too dangerous.” And he started to cry, so I tried to calm him down...

It’s funny to look back now, knowing that it’s behind me. But I think it shaped me, it shaped my will, my passion, my determination. French television then nominated me for the most courageous sportsman at the time, but I couldn’t go to the ceremony because I was undergoing surgery.

GPR: We were talking about heroes. Who were yours?  

MBS: I had a lot of respect for guys like Walter Rohrl, Henri Toivonen, Hannu Mikkola, Stig Blomqvist. These drivers were legends and they will always be special to me. And you’re right to ask about heroes. That question actually makes me think of something else.

Group B legends like 1984 WRC champion Blomqvist are cited by Ben Sulayem as his heroes

Photo by: Motorsport Images

You know there is this talk about a possible split between the FIA and Formula 1. Have you heard about that? A split! A split between what? I’ve said it many times and I will say it again. It’s easier for the Pope of the Vatican to get married a hundred times and divorced a hundred times than for F1 and the FIA to split.

You asked me about heroes... And you can ask the same question to young drivers: “Who is your idol?” or “Whose
path do you want to follow?” And if they want to go into Formula 1, they’ll tell you Fangio, Senna, Schumacher, Hamilton, Vettel, Alonso. All the legends of the sport.
That is our history. You can’t imagine the sport without it.

GPR: You studied abroad, right?

MBS: Yes, in the USA and also in the UK and Northern Ireland. But, you know, it’s not just your education, rallying brings you closer to the people. You go to remote areas, you meet people in villages, you meet people who don’t have phones... You’re out there practicing and, if your car breaks down, you might sleep in it before someone comes to rescue you. And you help people because if you don’t, they won’t help you. So those things have shaped my personality too,
it’s not just education.

"I’d rather do one term and make a real change than sit for 12 years just to enjoy the red carpet. That has never worked for me"
Mohammed Ben Sulayem

GPR: You chose this path, a career as a motorsport politician if you like. Why did you do it? What drives you?

MBS: I love the challenge. I’m motivated by the challenge. And if someone wants me to win, they just have to say the wrong words to me, “You can’t do it.” As soon as I hear that, I’ll do everything to win. If you ask me if I was confident that I was going to be president of the FIA, I’ll say yes. Yes, I was. It’s not ego. Work and be smart. And follow up. I see things that maybe other people don’t see.

I remember during my campaign they were telling me all about this social media: ‘Oh, we can get you this and that number of followers.’ I said I have 235 clubs and associations and half of them are supporting me. There are 120 left. So why do I need the millions on social media? Just focus on the 120 left. If I get even 50 of them, I will have won.

That campaign took me 12 years. And coming from this part of the world, with this nationality, with this skin, with this name, with this religion, it was even harder for me to win.

Ben Sulayem was a paddock regular for many years before embarking on his ultimately successful bid to succeed Jean Todt

Photo by: James Moy

GPR: What did you think of the job before you took it? And eventually, what was it like?

MBS: Good question. Yes. You know, let’s have a fair fight. A tough fight. A challenge. Anything. But don’t throw the dirt. That is not acceptable. When the media comes after you – especially, I’ll be honest, some of the British media... Fine, you come at me, I confront you. Where is the proof? Prove it.

They don’t come back to me. But the damage is done. I have prevailed. I don’t see it anymore.

I was elected to be fair, I was elected in a non-profit organisation and I don’t get a salary. Would you say that someone forced me? It was a will. Nobody threatened me to be here. So I have to accept and expect everything. I will never let go. And you know, I’ll tell you something – I’d rather do one term and make a real change than sit for 12 years just to enjoy the red carpet. That has never worked for me. I’ve never sought the red carpet. I’ve never wanted that.

I do my job. I do it quietly, getting where I want to take the FIA, repositioning it, being fair, being strong. We’re the owners of Formula 1. The FIA Formula 1 Championship,
we lease it, we’re the governor. We’re not a service provider.
A service provider is somebody you can bring into this building and tell them to clean the place – that’s a service provider. We’re not that.

GPR: Does Formula 1 need a strong FIA to be successful?
 
MBS: Strong. And fair. Yes. And if you’re a big company, a big business like a manufacturer or a sponsor, would you waste your money on something that’s not well governed or strongly governed? I talked to a lot of the big companies, the OEMs, and they said, “We’re only in because you take care of fairness.” And we will have a strong Federation. If it’s weak, why should anyone invest?

GPR: Do you have to agree with FOM on everything?

MBS: No. FOM has its points. But today, since I took over the presidency, we’re in a much better position together. And if you told me that I could go back and change some of the things that happened, for example, when I got hit by the media – I wouldn’t change anything.

Ben Sulayem believes a strong FIA is important as it works alongside F1

Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images

Let me give you an example from Las Vegas... The president of the FIA is the one who signs the homologation for the new track, or for all the tracks. I supported it. I could have said no, [because it wasn’t ready in time for inspection]. But as soon as my team said it was safe... because I’m a driver, I care about the wellbeing of the drivers and the people around them, our staff and the marshals. I did it.

It was a big thing. If I had said no, it would have been disastrous [for F1]. But it would have been legal. But I’m careful because I love the sport. At the end of the day, we’re in the same boat. We may have different missions. But we’re in the same boat. We cannot let the sport sink.

GPR: The FIA, as the referee in this sport, often comes under fire for decisions it makes, and it seems that sometimes there’s no way to make everyone happy. How do you deal with that?

"This sport should run without the president of the FIA. It should run automatically. The FIA should run without certain individuals"
Mohammed Ben Sulayem

MBS: I never take it personally, but I’m here to support my team. There are people who volunteer their time for us. And one of the things I’m most proud of is that I’m the founder of the campaign against online abuse, which was founded largely because of the online abuse of one our female stewards. You know, thank you for these questions because this is our reality. If you took the volunteers out of any sport, not just F1, would the sport continue?

GPR: Most likely not, no. 

MBS: Thank you. Olympic Games. Motor racing. Football. Nothing. It’s true, especially for us. We have, I don’t know, about 700 volunteers for each race. These people dedicate and give their time to the sport we all love. The stewards are the same. And then, at the same time, we have to deal with threats to our stewards. We’ve had death threats, one of our colleagues, a lady from Spain, was attacked on social media. She’s had death threats, she’s been told that they’re going to come and kill her or rape her or hurt her family.

I don’t want to be in that position. But I also had to deal with it when they threatened me after Abu Dhabi 2021.
Did I panic? No. But to go on and attack our stewards, our officials... I have to protect them.

That’s why we launched this campaign, an anti-toxicity, anti-abuse campaign. And we’ve got a lot of support, from federations, from governments.
We have people who understand that this is a huge problem that affects every sport. And if we do nothing about it, the sport will be damaged beyond repair.

An important initiative for Ben Sulayem has been his campaign to raise awareness about online abuse

Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images

GPR: You mentioned that the stewards are also volunteers. There are those who think that F1 should have a set of professional referees, a different system that would ensure more consistency. What do you say to them?

MBS: They’re right. And that’s why we’ve launched the steward’s pathway, we’ve created a pathway for race directors. When we had Michael Masi – and Michael was good – we didn’t have anybody else. Charlie Whiting was great, but there wasn’t anybody else. That is not the way to run the sport.

This sport should run without the president of the FIA. It should run automatically. The FIA should run without certain individuals. That’s why I’m making sure that we have the
ROC [Remote Operations Centre], which is remote race control, something similar to what’s done in football. And we try to find people and make them grow.

We reach out to people in Latin America, we reach out to people in Africa. Sometimes we only talk about diversity when it suits us.
But there are good people there, whatever their religion or colour or whatever, and we’re trying to build a pyramid where they can go to F4, F3, F2 and then F1. But it has to be a system.

We can’t just have one race director for F1. There’s fatigue. Accidents happen. Where do I get them? Everyone is pushing me, but where do I find these people? On Google? Do they sell them on Amazon? And again, you say we’re a referee...

Do you remember the 2022 race in Japan when the race was stopped [and there was confusion about how many points should be awarded]? Everyone blamed the FIA. But... Excusez-moi, if I may put it in French. Who wrote the rules? The FIA? Or did the teams, FOM and the FIA approve them together? It’s the F1 Commission. It’s all of us together.

And then there are always complaints. ‘Oh, you should have given the five-second penalty earlier, because if you had told us, we could have told the driver to push...’ And then the next race: ‘Oh, you have to listen to the driver first’. I mean, it’s good that they have the FIA to throw things at. We’re used to it. But we have to do our job, right?

GPR: You mentioned Michael Masi. He had to go through a lot after 2021. Have you tried to support him?

MBS: Yes. By calling him, by being with him. I was new.
I inherited things. I inherited this mess, which was purely human error. And Michael is a good man. He’s not finished with motorsport.

Ben Sulayem believes there is a way back for Masi after the Abu Dhabi 2021 controversy

Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images

I’m the president. I see things differently.
I don’t take anything personally. I never hate the person. I may hate the results of their actions. But I never hate the person. He’s a good person. Yes, there was a problem, but for me... If we need him and he’s willing to help us in some areas, he’s welcome in the sport.

GPR: What are the main challenges that are facing the FIA
and Formula 1 at the moment?

"We were very much in debt, four years before I took over. So that’s a big challenge because you cannot go on tightening your belt"
Mohammed Ben Sulayem

MBS: In F1 it’s fairness that we have to have, also when
it comes to the Concorde Agreement, the repositioning of the FIA. And I guarantee you that the sport will be even
better, the business will be better for FOM and Liberty and
for the teams, if there is a strong FIA. Because we’re not driven by money.

But we are there to ensure fairness
and to enforce regulations. And transparency. And the other big issue is that motorsport is very expensive. It has to be affordable.

The legal side is also very challenging. My biggest problem when I took over was the financial situation of the FIA. We were very much in debt, four years before I took over. So that’s a big challenge because you cannot go on tightening your belt. No, you have to generate more money. And you have to invest your money properly and spend it appropriately.

Ben Sulayem has urged the importance of making motorsport more affordable during his presidency

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images