FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has taken a strong stance against what he perceives as unfair treatment from the British media, claiming he has been “convicted” without cause throughout his tenure. Ben Sulayem, who took over the sport’s governing body in December 2021, expressed his frustrations in an exclusive interview with Autosport, highlighting what he sees as a biased dynamic in Britain’s media towards certain figures and drivers.
The comments come in the wake of a recent episode of the High-Performance podcast, where Adrian Newey, the legendary F1 designer now heading to Aston Martin, spoke about the harsh treatment Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel have faced in the past. Newey labeled the media’s approach as “very unfair,” a sentiment Ben Sulayem echoed, using his own experience as an example.
“I respect Max because I’m a driver. I was a champion, and I respect winners and champions,” Ben Sulayem said. “I see he had his share [of mistreatment], but let’s talk about me. If you look at the British media and what they did to me… For God’s sake, they convicted me.”
Ben Sulayem emphasized that while he hasn’t been accused of any wrongdoing, the relentless scrutiny has been unjustified. “They didn’t accuse me [of anything], but they keep on [going]. And do I care? No. Why? Because what are they after? They are after selling and getting more coverage for themselves, of course, yes. But they have no power over me and over the FIA.”
The FIA president defended his leadership, asserting that despite the media’s portrayal, his work has only improved due to the scrutiny. “With due respect to the British media or any other media, they don’t have a vote. We are an independent, democratic federation,” he stated. “It’s the world of membership that elected me. The power is with the General Assembly, not with them.”
Ben Sulayem urged the media to refocus on what’s best for the sport rather than indulging in what he calls “nonsense.” He challenged them to shift their attention, saying, “Can we just stop this nonsense and go back to business and do what is better for the sport? If you can? I’m asking. If they [the media] don’t want to do that, it’s up to them.”
Despite the criticism, Ben Sulayem remains resolute, declaring that the negative coverage has only strengthened his resolve. “Life goes on. You know what they did to me? They made me stronger. I’m more careful now and more wise,” he said, emphasizing that he still holds the support of the member clubs.
He reinforced the democratic nature of his position, making it clear that his presidency is not dictated by the media but by the FIA’s General Assembly. “At the end of the day, who put me there? It’s the General Assembly, it’s the members. I’m very, very clear with this. And if they don’t like it, it’s up to them.”
Despite his grievances, Ben Sulayem remains focused on his duties and refuses to engage further with the media. “I don’t go back to anyone, I don’t answer very much of you [members of the media] and I don’t retaliate. Why? Because I don’t have the time. I’m so busy answering what the members want and what motorsport wants.”
Ben Sulayem’s response is a defiant one, underscoring his commitment to remain unshaken by media narratives as he continues to lead the FIA according to the vision of its members, not the headlines.
