Mohammed Ben Sulayem
{{Short description|Emirati rally driver and FIA president (born 1961)}}
{{use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Mohammed Ben Sulayem
| image = Mohammed Ben Sulayem 2024.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Sulayem in 2024
| office = President of Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile
| term_start = 17 December 2021
| term_end =
| succeeding =
| predecessor = Jean Todt
| successor =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1961|11|12|df=y}}
| birth_place = Dubai, Trucial States (now United Arab Emirates)
| nationality = Emirati
| other_names =
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| honours =
| spouse =
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| website =
| module = {{Infobox WRC driver|subbox=yes
| Co-driver = {{flagicon|IRE}} Ronan Morgan
| Races = 23
| Championships = 0
| Wins = 0
| Podiums = 0
| Stagewins = 0
| Points = 12
| First race = 1988 Acropolis Rally
| First win =
| Last win =
| Last race = 1995 Rally Australia
}}
{{Infobox racing driver|subbox=yes
| name =
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| last series = Middle East Rally Championship
| years active = 1983–2002
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| titles = 14 {{times}} Middle East Rally Championship
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}}
| native_name = محمد بن سُلَيم
| native_name_lang = ar
}}
Mohammed Ahmad Sultan Ben Sulayem ({{langx|ar|محمد بن سليم}}; born 12 November 1961) is an Emirati former rally driver and motorsports executive who serves as president of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the governing body of many auto racing events including Formula One.
He is a former rally driver, and one of the most successful Middle East Rally Championship drivers, winning 14 titles. In 2005, he became the President of the Emirates Motorsports Organization, the representative of the United Arab Emirates in the FIA. In 2008, he was elected as a Vice President for sport and a member of the FIA World Motor Sport Council. He was key to organizing the first Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2009. In 2012, he was among the founding members and chairman of FIA sub-region of Arab Council of Touring and Automobile Clubs. In December 2021, he was appointed as FIA President, succeeding Jean Todt.
In September 2024, he was appointed as UN Tourism's Ambassador for Sustainable Tourism in the Sport category in recognition of his efforts in integrating sustainability initiatives into global motorsport.
Since taking charge as President of the FIA, he has been involved in several controversies.
Early life and education
Sulayem was born on 12 November 1961 in Dubai, Trucial States (now United Arab Emirates). He studied business at American University in Washington, D.C. where he graduated with a bachelor's degree.{{Cite report|date=17 December 2021|title=Mohammed Ben Sulayem, profile|url=https://www.fia.com/profile/mohammed-ben-sulayem |access-date=6 November 2023|publisher=Federation Internationale de l'Automobile|language=en}}
Personal life
Sulayem is a prominent car collector and owns multiple supercars including Koenigsegg Agera RS, Koenigsegg Regera, Koenigsegg Chimera, Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, Porsche, McLaren, Bugatti, Jaguar, Lexus, Ford GT, Lamborghini, and Rolls-Royce.{{Cite web|title=ECR Collection - The Mohammed Ben Sulayem Collection|url=https://exclusivecarregistry.com/collection/themohammedbensulayemcollection|access-date=29 July 2022|website=Exclusive Car Registry|language=en}}
In July 2012, he was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Science from the University of Ulster in recognition of his services to sport, civic leadership and charity.{{Cite news|title=Ulster Honours Gulf Rally Driver|url=https://www.ulster.ac.uk/news/2012/july/ulster-honours-gulf-rally-driver|access-date=4 May 2021|publisher=Ulster|date=7 November 2016|language=en}}
On 7 March 2023, one of Ben Sulayem's sons, Saif Ben Sulayem, died in a road accident in Dubai.{{Cite news|title=Saif Ben Sulayem: FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem's son killed in car crash in Dubai|url=https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/12828692/saif-ben-sulayem-fia-president-mohammed-ben-sulayems-son-killed-in-car-crash-in-dubai|date=9 March 2023|access-date=10 March 2023|newspaper=Sky Sports|language=en}}{{Cite news|title=FIA president Ben Sulayem's son loses life in road crash|url=https://www.motorsport.com/general/news/fia-president-ben-sulayems-son-loses-life-in-road-crash/10441692/|access-date=10 March 2023|publisher=Motorsport.com|date=9 March 2023 |language=en}}
Racing career
Ben Sulayem competed in the Middle East Rally Championship driving for Toyota and Ford. He won his first title in 1986 with a Toyota Celica and went on to win six consecutive titles through to 1991. In 1994, he won his seventh title with a Ford Escort RS Cosworth. From 1996 to 2002, Ben Sulayem won a further seven titles with Ford, making him the most successful driver in the championship with over 60 wins and 14 titles (both the records have since been broken by Nasser Al-Attiyah).{{Cite web|url=http://motorsportwinners.com/current/middle-east-rally-championship/|title=Middle East Rally Championship winners|publisher=Motorsport Winners|access-date=1 November 2023}}
Administrative career
In 2005, he became the President of the Emirates Motorsports Organization, the representative of the UAE in FIA.{{Cite report|date=17 December 2021|title=Mohammed Ben Sulayem, profile|url=https://www.fia.com/file/166694/download/|access-date=6 November 2023|publisher=Federation Internationale de l'Automobile|language=en}} In 2008, he was elected as a Vice President for sport and a member of the FIA World Motor Sport Council, and he was key to organizing the first Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2009.{{Cite news|last=Cooper|first=Sam|date=24 January 2023|title=Who is the FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and where does he come from? |url=https://www.planetf1.com/news/who-is-mohammed-ben-sulayem-fia-president|access-date=20 October 2023|publisher=PlanetF1|language=en}} In 2012, he was among the founding members and chairman of FIA sub-region of Arab Council of Touring and Automobile Clubs.
In June 2013, he was appointed as the chairman of the new Motor Sport Development Task Force set up by the FIA to build a ten-year plan for the sport's global development.{{Cite news|url= https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2021/12/17/mohammed-ben-sulayem/|title=Who is new FIA President Mohammed ben Sulayem – was he a former driver?|date= 17 December 2021|publisher=HITC|access-date=18 December 2021}} In December 2021, he was appointed as the FIA President succeeding Jean Todt.{{Cite news|url=https://www.fia.com/news/mohammed-ben-sulayem-elected-fia-president|title=Mohammed Ben Sulayem elected FIA President|date=17 December 2021|publisher=FIA|access-date=19 December 2021}}
Honors
- 14 X Middle East Rally Championship (1986-91, 1994, 1996-2002)
=Individual=
Individual honors won include:
- Medal of Honour, King Hussein of Jordan (1986)
- President's Cup, President Amine Gemayel of Lebanon (1987)
- Medal of Honour, President Emile Lahoud of Lebanon (1999)
- Medal of Honour, King Abdullah II of Jordan (1999)
- Medal of Honour, King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa of Bahrain (2004)
- UAE Sportsman of the Century, Agence France-Presse (AFP)
Controversies
In 2022, Ben Sulayem, as FIA President, oversaw the investigation into the controversial ending of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The race ended with a last lap shootout when the Race Director (Michael Masi) brought in the safety car on the same lap as allowing lapped cars to unlap themselves. This was in breach of F1 regulations, which require the safety car to stay out for an additional lap after releasing lapped cars. Had the regulations been applied correctly, the race would have ended under safety car conditions with no overtaking allowed on the final lap. The investigation concluded that while the safety car did not stay out for the additional lap, "as required by article 48.12", the result was legitimised because, as Mercedes AMG did not appeal, there was "no available mechanism to change the classification".{{Cite web|url=https://www.fia.com/news/fia-announces-world-motor-sport-council-decisions-25|title=FIA Announces World Motor Sport Council Decisions|publisher=FIA|access-date=19 March 2022}} The investigation failed to report that the FIA President has the power under Judicial & Disciplinary article 9.1.1.d to refer the controversial ending to the FIA International Court of Appeal (ICA) for them to decide whether the result was legitimate. The ICA, which comprises qualified legal experts, has the power to change race classifications should they deem that regulations were infringed.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fia.com/rules-practice-directions|title=FIA Judicial and Disciplinary rules|publisher=FIA|access-date=19 March 2022}} This option is available until at least March 2027, 5 years after the report was published, in accordance with the statute of limitation defined in the F1 Sporting Regulations.
Ben Sulayem allegedly told FIA officials to declare the Las Vegas Strip Circuit unsafe for racing and not certify the circuit for the 2023 race.{{cite news |last1=Benson |first1=Andrew |title=Mohammed Ben Sulayem: FIA president allegedly told officials not to certify Las Vegas GP |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/68478049 |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=5 March 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Sarkozi |first1=Kada |title='Ben Sulayem attempted to cancel Las Vegas GP last year' |url=https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/263097/fia-president-ben-sulayem-also-accused-of-wanting-to-cancel-las-vegas.html |publisher=GPblog}}{{cite web |last1=McDonagh |first1=Connor |title=FIA’s Mohammed Ben Sulayem under more scrutiny as Las Vegas GP allegations emerge |url=https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1045039/1/fias-mohammed-ben-sulayem-under-more-scrutiny-las-vegas-gp-allegations-emerge |publisher=Crash |date=5 March 2024}}{{cite web |last1=BHAGI |first1=PRANAY |title=Mohammed Ben Sulayem Attempted to Cancel $1.2 BN Worth Las Vegas GP for Mysterious Reasons |url=https://www.essentiallysports.com/f1-news-mohammed-ben-sulayem-attempted-to-cancel-worth-las-vegas-gp-for-mysterious-reasons/ |publisher=Essentially Sports |date=5 March 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Gale |first1=Ewan |title=FIA president facing fresh whistleblower allegations - report |url=https://racingnews365.com/fia-president-facing-fresh-whistleblower-allegations-report |publisher=Racing News |date=5 March 2024}}
Ben Sulayem was investigated for allegedly attempting to intervene in the results of the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.{{cite web |last1=Golding |first1=Nick |last2= Parkes |first2=Ian |title=FIA President under investigation for alleged race interference |url=https://racingnews365.com/fia-president-under-investigation-for-alleged-race-interference |website=Racing News |date=5 March 2024}} On 5 March 2024, the FIA confirmed its compliance officer has received two whistleblower complaints.{{cite news |last1=Fryer |first1=Jenna |title=FIA confirms whistleblower complaints against president regarding Saudi Arabia and Las Vegas races |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2024/mar/05/fia-confirms-whistleblower-complaints-against-pres/ |work=Las Vegas Sun |date=March 5, 2024}}
= Misogyny allegations =
In January 2023, The Times newspaper resurfaced comments Ben Sulayem made on his now archived website in 2001. The newspaper quoted Sulayem as saying he did not like "women who think they are smarter than men, for they are not in truth." The veracity of the quotes was not refuted by Sulayem, but the FIA defended him saying "the remarks in this archived website from 2001 do not reflect the president's beliefs."{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/fia-defends-ben-sulayem-after-reported-sexist-comments-2023-01-28/|title=FIA defends Ben Sulayem after reported sexist comments|author=Alan Baldwin|date=28 January 2023|publisher=Reuters|access-date=30 January 2023 }}
= Driver swearing punishments =
In November 2024, Ben Sulayem faced criticism by the Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA) after both Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc received punishment for swearing in FIA press conferences. Verstappen received an FIA community service order ahead of the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, whilst Leclerc received a €10,000 fine. The GPDA responded with an open letter.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/articles/c62486kxlgro|title=F1 drivers ask FIA to treat them like adults|author=Andrew Benson|date=7 November 2024|publisher=BBC|access-date=26 January 2025}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/gpda-asks-fia-to-treat-f1-drivers-like-adults-over-swearing/10671304/|title=GPDA asks FIA to treat F1 drivers like adults over swearing row|author=Jake Boxall-Legge|date=7 November 2024|website=Motorsport|access-date=26 January 2025}}
In 2025, Ben Sulayem came under fire for the change in the International Sporting Code, which imposed guidelines of language and misconduct, stating that language or action resulting in the "moral injury or loss to the FIA, its bodies, its members or its executive officers" can be punished in the form of fines, deduction of championship points and suspensions, depending on the frequency of said breaches.{{cite web|url=https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1-drivers-who-swear-could-get-fines-and-points-deductions-say-new-fia-guidelines/10690725/|title=F1 drivers who swear could get fines and lose points, say new FIA guidelines|author=Jake Boxall-Legge|date=22 January 2025|website=Motorsport|access-date=26 January 2025}} Similar to the GPDA, World Rally Championship drivers formed the World Rally Drivers Alliance (WoRDA) after driver Adrien Fourmaux received a €10,000 fine for swearing during an interview after the conclusion of Rally Sweden. The alliance protested by refusing to speak in interviews or only speak in their mother tongue to explain their decision, during Safari Rally Kenya.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-19 |title=WRC drivers protest against FIA swearing ban |url=https://www.motorsport.com/wrc/news/wrc-drivers-protest-against-fia-swearing-ban-safari-rally-kenya/10704788/ |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=www.motorsport.com |language=en}}
= Poor governance accusations =
At the direction of Ben Sulayem, the FIA has taken steps to limit accountability.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-03 |title=FIA seeks rule changes in wake of president allegations |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/articles/cy89xevxp1jo |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}} Multiple senior officials within the FIA have either resigned or been fired after investigating and raising concerns with Ben Sulayem's governance of the organisation.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-10 |title=FIA ex-CEO Natalie Robyn breaks silence over 'serious challenges' |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/articles/cql66wv234go |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=2025-04-10 |title=Robert Reid: FIA deputy president for sport resigns over 'breakdown in governance standards' |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/articles/c1lmmy6q5r4o |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}} In February 2025, the Chair of Motorsport UK, David Richards, and the FIA Deputy President for Sport, Robert Reid, were barred from a World Motor Sport Council meeting after refusing to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).{{Cite web |date=2025-02-26 |title=Formula 1: Key figures barred from FIA meeting after refusing to sign NDA in dispute with Mohammed Ben Sulayem |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/articles/c8j08dmmjx1o |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}} Motorsport UK and Richards subsequently threatened the FIA with legal action,{{Cite web |last=Collantine |first=Keith |date=2025-04-09 |title=Motorsport UK criticises FIA response after threat of legal action |url=https://www.racefans.net/2025/04/09/motorsport-uk-criticises-fia-response-after-threat-of-legal-action/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=RaceFans |language=en-GB}} while Reid resigned from his post in April 2025, citing "a fundamental breakdown in governance standards within motorsport's global governing body".{{Cite web |date=2025-04-10 |title=Robert Reid: FIA deputy president for sport resigns over 'breakdown in governance standards' |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/articles/c1lmmy6q5r4o |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}} It has been speculated that the NDA requirement was introduced by Ben Sulayem to avoid negative press around possible changes to FIA statutes that would make it harder for anyone to stand against him in the FIA elections later in the year. Following the news of Reid's resignation, former CEO of the FIA, Natalie Robyn, who was forced to resign in May 2024 following disagreements with Ben Sulayem, said that there were "serious ongoing structural challenges" within the organisation.
Racing record
=Complete WRC results=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
! Year ! Entrant ! Car ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! 13 ! 14 ! WDC ! Points |
| 1988
! Marlboro Middle East Rally Team | MON | SWE | POR | KEN | FRA |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| GRC | USA | NZL | ARG | FIN | CIV | ITA | GBR | ! NC ! 0 |
| 1990
! Winston Toyota Team Middle East | MON | POR | KEN | FRA |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| GRC | NZL | ARG | FIN | AUS | ITA | CIV | GBR | | ! NC ! 0 |
| 1991
| MON | SWE | POR | KEN | FRA | GRC | NZL |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ARG | FIN | AUS | ITA | CIV | ESP | GBR ! 40th ! 4 |
| 1992
| MON | SWE |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| POR | KEN | FRA |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| GRC |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| NZL | ARG | FIN |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| AUS |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ITA | CIV |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ESP | GBR ! 58th ! 2 |
| 1993
| MON |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SWE |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| POR | KEN | FRA |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| GRC |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ARG | NZL | FIN | AUS |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| ITA |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ESP | GBR | ! 31st ! 6 |
| 1994
| MON |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| POR | KEN |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| FRA |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| GRC | ARG | NZL | FIN | ITA | GBR | | | | ! NC ! 0 |
| 1995
! Marlboro Toyota Grifone | MON |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SWE |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| POR |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| FRA |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| NZL |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| AUS | ESP | GBR | | | | | | ! NC ! 0 |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Mohammed bin Sulayem}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20060425052945/http://www.mohammedbensulayem.com/ Mohammed Ben Sulayem]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20060515115828/http://www.bspturbo.com/index.htm Ben Sulayem Performance]
{{s-start}}
{{s-sports}}
{{succession box | before = Jean Todt | title = President of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile | years= 2021–present | after= Incumbent}}
{{succession box | before = Saeed Al-Hajri | title = Middle East Rally Champion | years = 1986–1991 | after = Mamdouh Khayat }}
{{succession box | before = Hamed Al-Thani | title = Middle East Rally Champion | years = 1994 | after = Abdullah Bakhashab}}
{{succession box | before = Abdullah Bakhashab | title = Middle East Rally Champion | years = 1996–2002 | after = Nasser Al-Attiyah}}
{{s-end}}
{{FIA}}{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sulayem, Mohammed Ben}}
Category:Emirati rally drivers
Category:Sportspeople from Dubai
Category:Middle East Rally Championship
Category:Presidents of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile