Mohammed Ben Sulayem

As an experienced figure in the world of motorsport, Mohammed Ben Sulayem was elected as the new president of the FIA at the end of 2021. He succeeded Jean Todt in this role. Sulayem aims to bring about many changes during his presidency, including strengthening diversity and inclusion within the motorsport world.

Sulayem, born in Dubai, is a 14-time FIA Middle East rally champion before transitioning into motorsport governance. His experience as a driver is considered a significant asset in his role as FIA president. Between 2008 and 2013, Sulayem was part of the FIA World Motor Sport Council as the first Arab member, and he also served as the FIA vice president for mobility and tourism.

At the end of the 2021 season, the FIA came under heavy criticism following the controversial Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where Max Verstappen clinched the world title in the final lap of the season. Michael Masi lost his job as race director due to his decisions, which allowed Verstappen the opportunity to overtake Lewis Hamilton in the last lap. After the season finale, the FIA announced a major investigation into the events in Abu Dhabi, leading to significant changes within the organization. This placed immediate responsibility on Sulayem's shoulders, who took over the FIA presidency right after the season's conclusion. Jean Todt, the previous president, had completed the maximum of three terms. Sulayem won the election against fellow candidate Graham Stoker with 61% of the votes, making him the 10th president of the organization. He is the first non-European president of the FIA. The former rally driver advocates for more diversity and inclusion and is also focused on sustainability.

Sulayem, however, did not have a smooth start to his presidency. He came under fire for his controversial remarks regarding Lando Norris, Sebastian Vettel, and Lewis Hamilton. The Arab leader expressed that he didn’t believe it was necessary for F1 drivers to be so outspoken about their beliefs, such as Norris on mental health and Hamilton on human rights. Sulayem later retracted his statements, clarifying that he values the commitment of the drivers.