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FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem is no stranger to controversy, but his latest statements are sure to spark a reaction — particularly among members of the British press.
In what has become a recurring theme during his presidency, Ben Sulayem criticized the media, accusing it of being “unfair”, while making a confusing remark about the Formula 1 British Grand Prix.
Speaking during the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia, the FIA president opened his speech with a mixture of defiance and thinly veiled frustration.
“Three years of criticism against me. Does this worry me? Was I elected to listen to the media? No,” he said.
“I like good media, positive media and maybe I’m making a mistake, and you can come and criticize me objectively.”
The FIA President and the Media
It’s not entirely clear what sparked this latest rant, but the Emirati has made it known that he feels targeted, particularly by the British media.
“Unfair. But the world is unfair. Saudi Arabia has reinvested a lot,” he continued. “Look at some of the British media, they are attacking Saudi Arabia or me.”
His tensions with the press are an ongoing saga, with journalists closely scrutinizing his tenure.
From turbulence within the FIA to clashes with F1 drivers and their association — the GPDA, Ben Sulayem’s leadership has been marked by headline-grabbing dramas.
An Evasive Arrow at the British Grand Prix
However, Ben Sulayem did not stop at the media. He also criticized the Formula 1 British Grand Prix, targeting its title sponsorship.
“One thing I would say, go watch the British Grand Prix. Is it the British Grand Prix? No, it’s the Qatar Airways British Grand Prix. Please withdraw the budget, withdraw the money,” he said.
Ben Sulayem’s precise intentions with this comment remain unclear. One might assume he wanted to suggest that the Silverstone-based event would no longer exist without its Qatari sponsor.
Or perhaps this statement was aimed at criticism of Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in the world of motorsport?
This statement leaves room for speculation — and will likely ensure a series of questions for him in the future.
An Election Year Under Tension
This latest episode comes at a crucial time for Ben Sulayem, who is entering an election year for the presidency of the FIA. Although he faces no opposition for the position, his tenure has been anything but quiet.
A tumultuous relationship with Formula 1 drivers has made headlines, with tensions erupting last year ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix.
Ben Sulayem had publicly reprimanded the drivers for their “bad expressions”, but found himself under fire when Max Verstappen swore during an official press conference and subsequently received a sanction.
The incident prompted the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association to issue a rare public rebuke, calling on the FIA president to review his method.
“We ask the FIA President to also consider his own tone and language when addressing or about our member drivers, whether in a public forum or otherwise,” the GPDA said in November.
“Also, our members are adults, they do not need instructions via the media on such trivial matters as wearing jewelry and underwear.”
Ben Sulayem’s presidency has been a whirlwind of reforms, public disputes, and, more often than not, scathing remarks against the press and other critics.
As he guides the FIA into a new year, his latest comments highlight a growing divide between his vision for the sport and the critical eye of those watching from the outside.
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