F1
Mohammed Ben Sulyaem strengthens his powers at the head of the FIA
Eric Alonso / DPPI
Mohammed bin Sulayem has been racking up controversy over his FIA presidency, and it's not about to stop. With a new election approaching at the end of the year, the Emirati is planning to run for a second term. And to maximize his chances of success, the former FIA driver rally don't hesitate to change the rules in his favor.
This Thursday, on the occasion of the FIA General Conference in Macau, the proposed amendment to the regulation of the federation made by Mohammed Ben Sulayem was voted with nearly 80% of the votes, according to the English media The Race.
Among the proposed amendments, a sort of "right of veto" of the FIA governance on the presidential candidates and their "professional integrity." Mohammed Ben Sulayem would also be given the opportunity to appoint four of the sixteen members of the FIA Senate.
"The proposed amendments to the FIA regulations aim to strengthen processes around governance and confidentiality, the president said at the rally in Macau. They all passed with a large majority of voters in the assembly, in accordance with the democratic process that governs decision-making within the federation.
“Decisions are made behind closed doors, bypassing structures and people.”
As a reminder, in early April 2025, the sudden resignation of the FIA vice-president surprised the motorsport world. Freed from the non-disclosure agreements imposed by Mohammed Ben Sulayem, Robert Reid spoke to the British press: "When I took office, it was to serve the FIA, not power. I have witnessed an erosion of fundamental principles. Decisions are being made behind closed doors, bypassing the very structures and people the FIA is supposed to represent."
The main interested party did not react directly, except to appoint Malcolm Wilson, former British rally driver and 1994 British champion and founder of the team, to the vacant post. M-Sport, who won the Middle East Rally Championship with… Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
The day before the vote, the Austrian Motorsport Federation sent a letter to all members of the assembly in Macau, denouncing these amendments and urging a vote against: "It is no coincidence that proposals to change the FIA's election system are being made at a time when the current president is aiming to run again."
Carlos Sainz Sr., the pilot's father Williams, has not yet confirmed his intention to run in the next election, which will take place in December at the next FIA assembly in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. While he has admitted to being interested, he will now have to face the stratagems put in place by Mohammed Ben Sulayem to maintain his role as president...
ALSO READ > Carlos Sainz at the head of the FIA? A credible alternative to Mohammed Ben Sulayem
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Lucas Paul
14/06/2025 at 10:16 a.m.
And meanwhile, we let lots of things happen that shouldn't! Poor F1, at this rate, it could disappear in favor of a new team, which would respect the soul of F1, and these favorite circuits...... I hope at 84 years old not to "suffer" that :(:(:(
Yves-Henri RANDIER
13/06/2025 at 07:06 a.m.
The Emirati is acting like a good autocrat who absolutely wants to retain power by changing the rules of the game in his favor. Putin did it before him, Trump is following in the footsteps of his great friend Vlad Putler I, many others in Africa are doing it too (like the president in Tanzania who had raised a lot of hope during her election) and I will not be surprised if we learn fairly quickly that the bloody Paul Kagame - who is shamefully enriching himself with minerals plundered from his Congolese neighbor - obtained MBS's approval for a Grand Prix in Rwanda, Liberty Media also finding its financial benefit there!