FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has hit back at the British media, accusing them of trying to convict him—but he claims not to care, as they aren’t the ones holding the power to keep him in office.
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Over the past year, Ben Sulayem has faced accusations of misogyny, allegedly meddling with race outcomes, and getting into hot water with Formula One Management (FOM). It seems he’s not thrilled with how the UK press has treated him. Even though Formula 1 has a global following, the media presence in the paddock is predominantly British, and the country is known for its investigative journalism, especially when it comes to major figures in sport and beyond.
In January 2023, The Times dug up comments supposedly made by Ben Sulayem back in 2001, in which he allegedly said he dislikes “women who think they are smarter than men because they are not in truth.” Although Ben Sulayem didn’t deny making these remarks, the FIA defended him, stating that “the comments from this archived website in 2001 do not reflect the president’s current views.”
Then, in March of this year, the BBC reported on a whistleblower’s claims that Ben Sulayem had allegedly stepped in to reverse a penalty given to Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso during the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. However, an investigation later cleared him of any wrongdoing.
He also faced allegations—again reported by the BBC—of instructing FIA officials to declare the Las Vegas circuit unsafe for racing, refusing to certify it for its debut race.
“I respect Max [Verstappen] because I’m a driver. I was a champion and I respect winners and champions.”
“I see he had his share [of mistreatment], but let’s talk about me. If you look at the British media and what they did to me… For God’s sake, they convicted me.
“They didn’t accuse me [of anything], but they keep on [going]. And do I care? No. Why? Because what are they after? They are after selling and getting more coverage for them[selves]. Of course, yes.
“But they have no power over me and over the FIA,”
he told Motorsport.com.
Stories like these seem to fuel Ben Sulayem’s belief that the British media have it out for him. He’s not the first sports figure to make such accusations; in 2015, after a series of reports on corruption, then-FIFA president Sepp Blatter pointed the finger at the British and American media, accusing them of trying to bring him down. Blatter was suspended by FIFA and stepped down later that year.
Despite the drama, Ben Sulayem remains unfazed by the British press, maintaining that they are not the ones responsible for electing him.
“With due respect to the British media or any other media, they don’t have a vote. We are an independent, democratic federation. It’s the world of membership that elected me. The power is with the General Assembly, not with them.”
“And you know what? Can we just stop this nonsense and go back to business and do what is better for the sport? If you can? I’m asking. If they [the media] don’t want to do that, it’s up to them.
“But life goes on. You know what they did to me? They made me stronger. I’m more careful now and more wise.
“And I have the support [of the member clubs]. And if and when the members decide that it’s time to change me as president, it’s their call.
“At the end of the day, who put me there? It’s the General Assembly, it’s the members. I’m very, very clear with this. And if they don’t like it, it’s up to them.”
“But I don’t go back to anyone, I don’t answer very much of you [members of the media] and I don’t retaliate. Why? Because I don’t have the time. I’m so busy answering what the members want and what motorsport wants.”