F1
Mohammed Ben Sulayem reacts to events in the Middle East and discusses the FIA championships
© Gregory Lenormand / DPPI
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) since December 17, 2021, took to Instagram following recent events in the Middle East. In an Instagram post, he wrote: “As president of the FIA, my thoughts are with all those affected by the recent events in the Middle East. We are deeply saddened by the loss of life and stand in solidarity with the affected families and communities.”
He adds : "In this time of uncertainty, we wish for calm, security, and a swift return to stability. Dialogue and the protection of civilians must remain priorities." Mohammed Ben Sulayem also specifies that the body is in contact with the stakeholders involved: "We are in close contact with our member clubs, the league promoters, the teams, and our colleagues on the ground, and we are monitoring the situation closely and responsibly." He finally indicates that “Safety and well-being will guide our decisions when evaluating upcoming events planned at this circuit for the FIA World Endurance Championship and the World Championship of Formula 1 FIA.
The president concludes his message by reiterating the principles of the institution: "Our organization is based on unity and a common goal. This unity is more important than ever." In the description of that same post, he concludes: "Our thoughts are with all those affected by the recent events in the Middle East. We continue to monitor the evolving situation on the ground, and the safety and well-being of everyone will guide our decisions for future events."
See this post on Instagram
As a reminder, tensions have risen in the Middle East in recent days following a series of military and diplomatic exchanges involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. Several neighboring countries have expressed concern about the spread of the conflict, while the international community has been increasingly calling for calm and the protection of civilians. Some countries have also been affected, such as Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates, which explains the connection to motorsports and the FIA president's statement.
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Alain Féguenne (🇱🇺 Luxembourg)
02/03/2026 at 07:58 a.m.
I have to say… it's a disgrace on Europe's part again… and it's been like this for years. I'm not for DT, but he's taking action, which is what everyone should be doing… I also think the April GPs in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain will be canceled… or postponed… it seems obvious! When will the FIA make a statement…? What are we waiting for…? Incompetence… or something worse… 🧐👎. alainkf1@pt.lu 😎💵
Yves-Henri RANDIER
02/03/2026 at 05:53 a.m.
There must be a lot of activity behind the scenes to explore alternative options in case Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are dropped, which is very likely given that Donald Trump has announced it will last at least four weeks, and that the Iranian regime of the mullahs will not remain inactive in the meantime.
Joel Gaboriaud
02/03/2026 at 03:54 a.m.
With all due respect, could you please proofread your articles to avoid repetitions of words and even phrases, e.g., "follow the evolution of the situation..." The same thing happened yesterday in an article by a GP driver. It would be much more pleasant to read.