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Ben Sulayem fights back against election manipulation claims: a presidency under fire

Simon Monroy by Simon Monroy
December 13, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0
Ben Sulayem fights back against election manipulation claims: a presidency under fire

Formula One F1 - Miami Grand Prix - Miami International Autodrome, Miami, Florida, United States - May 3, 2025 Tulsi Gabbard, director of National Intelligence and FIA president Mohammed ben Sulayem after qualifying REUTERS/Brian Snyder

Title: Ben Sulayem Strikes Back: Defending His Presidency Amid Election Controversies

In a dramatic turn of events, Mohammed Ben Sulayem has emerged victorious in the FIA presidential elections, but not without controversy! The re-elected leader of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has found himself at the center of a storm, facing allegations of manipulating the electoral process. This showdown unfolded in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where Ben Sulayem secured his position as president—albeit as the sole candidate.

However, the battle is far from over. Laura Villars, his former rival, has taken her grievances to the French courts, claiming that the election process was tainted by anti-democratic practices. A pivotal hearing is scheduled for February 16, raising the stakes for Ben Sulayem and his administration.

In a fiery response to the mounting accusations, Ben Sulayem stood firm during a recent interview with AFP, stating, “I don’t understand why these other candidates didn’t travel to Latin America to defend their programs. One must go to the places, meet the people, and earn their trust and support for their candidacies. This is democracy, for heaven’s sake!” His comments directly addressed the controversy regarding the absence of vital figures who were supposed to be approved by the FIA as vice-presidents for Latin America. The only candidate given the nod was Fabiana Flosi, the wife of former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, a staunch supporter of Ben Sulayem.

Ben Sulayem further asserted, “The electoral process has not changed because the rules were already in place, and we simply enforced them.” When confronted about his popularity, he defiantly stated, “I don’t believe I’m unpopular. I wouldn’t have gotten this far if I hadn’t faced all these challenges and attacks. They’ve targeted me day and night, but what do I care? I’ve ignored them and focused on delivering on my promises.”

The 64-year-old Emirati leader, now confirmed to serve until December 31, 2029, reflected on his tumultuous first four years in office. “I look forward to getting to work for the next four years. Cleaning house hasn’t been easy, and placing the right people in the right positions within the FIA has been a challenge. But I can confidently say that the investments made during my first term are paying off. If you were to ask me what I would change if I could go back, the answer would be ‘nothing.’”

Ben Sulayem concluded with a candid admission, revealing that he never anticipated facing many of the issues that arose during his tenure, stating, “But they were simply matters of common sense. Before I took over as president, the FIA was not fully assuming its responsibilities.”

As the dust settles from the election and the legal battles loom, one thing is clear: the fight for the future direction of the FIA is just heating up. With Ben Sulayem at the helm, the world of motorsport will be watching closely as this saga unfolds, poised to see if he can navigate these turbulent waters and emerge stronger than ever.

Tags: 1958-formula-1-seasonfabiana-flosilaura-villarsMohammed Ben Sulayem
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