Simply over 1,000 days in the past, FIA president Jean Todt stepped down from his place on the finish of his third time period – the final allowed beneath the federation’s statutes – with an election held to find out his successor.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, a 14-times Center East Rally champion, efficiently gained the election over Todt’s former deputy Graham Stoker with virtually two-thirds of votes from the physique’s worldwide membership.
Over the virtually three years of his presidency, Ben Sulayem has turn out to be a reputation and face that Formulation 1 followers particularly have turn out to be very conversant in. A much more seen presence at grands prix than his predecessor, Ben Sulayem has been a daily attendee in parc ferme after qualifying classes and races in addition to on the post-race podium, presenting FIA winner’s medals to the motive force first throughout the end line.
Off the monitor, Ben Sulayem has been an energetic participant within the political world of Formulation 1. He spearheaded the opening of functions to search out potential new groups to hitch the world championship – a lot to the bemusement of Formulation One Administration and the ten current groups, who had zero need amongst them to open up the game to newcomers.
The FIA president has additionally been topic to criticism from sections of the media, in addition to followers and even some F1 drivers, for controversial actions and feedback. Previous feedback on his personal private web site from over a decade in the past, which many take into account sexist, re-emerged final 12 months in an article by The Instances. Allegations about Ben Sulayem interfering within the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix raised by whistleblowers earlier this 12 months had been dismissed by the FIA’s ethics committee who discovered no proof to substantiate the claims.
Most just lately, present world champion Max Verstappen successfully boycotted the FIA’s official press conferences through the Singapore Grand Prix in response to a punishment to finish ‘some work of public curiosity’ that he acquired for swearing in an earlier press convention. The weird punishment got here simply days after Ben Sulayem had criticised F1 drivers in an interview for commonly swearing on crew radio.
Ben Sulayem has beforehand complained about his press protection, saying earlier this 12 months “the media attempt to bloodbath me and assassinate me.” He made comparable feedback once more this week saying: “If you happen to have a look at the British media and what they did to me… for God’s sake, they convicted me,” to Autosport.
“They didn’t accuse me [of anything], however they carry on [going]. And do I care? No. Why? As a result of what are they after? They’re after promoting and getting extra protection for them[selves].”
Ben Sulayem insists that he retains the bulk assist of the FIA’s member golf equipment – a few of whom printed statements in assist of him following the allegations of interference made towards him earlier this 12 months. Below the FIA’s statutes, Ben Sulayem and his administration will face re-election on the finish of 2025, as long as an opponent runs towards him, which means Ben Sulayem’s management could possibly be examined in simply over one 12 months’s time.
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You say
Throughout Todt’s presidency of the governing physique, RaceFans routinely polled you, the readers, about the way you gauged the efficiency of the previous Ferrari crew principal in his new function. After 1,000 days of Ben Sulayem’s presidency, now appears an applicable time to ask how you are feeling about Ben Sulayem’s efficiency as FIA president so far.
As an organisation, the FIA oversees way over simply Formulation 1 and single-seater motorsport. Its mobility pillar is not any much less necessary to the organisation, however is generally solely separate from Formulation 1. Beforehand, with Jean Todt, RaceFans solely requested in your evaluation of his efficiency with regard to Formulation 1. Due to this fact, please base your judgement of Ben Sulayem’s efficiency on how his organisation has dealt with F1 issues throughout his time on the helm.
As an F1 fan, do you approve or disapprove of Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s efficiency as FIA President?
Disapprove (84%)
Approve (8%)
Whole Voters: 87
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