FIA President Mohammed bin Sulayem says what makes him different from his predecessors and how he gets the members on his side
Nearly two years and thus half of his term in office has already been completed by FIA President Mohammed bin Sulayem. Since 17 December 2021, the 61-year-old from the United Arab Emirates has already been in office as Jean Todt’s successor and says he has brought a different culture to the FIA.
“If you look at my predecessors, [Jean-Marie] Belestre, Max Mosley and Jean Todt: none of them came from a member association. None. That’s the big difference,” Sulayem stresses, but also underlines, “I’m not going to say I’m better than the others. I am saying that I am different.”
According to him, the FIA is there for its members. “You serve your members, and that’s what I was elected to do – not just serve so that one serves,” he says. “The culture of the FIA is a challenge. Does it serve the president and the promoter? No. It serves the sport and the members,” he stresses. “It’s a challenge and I’m changing that.”
Sulayem says he fares well with this strategy towards his members: “I listen to them and provide easy access.” He reveals, “As a team, we put 2,000 hours into the members, and they were shocked that someone was talking to them and listening to them.”
“Their needs are quite low. They just want attention and that maybe something will improve,” Sulayem says.
He also said that after he was elected, he also welcomed all those who voted against him. “In their position, they might be good people who add value to the FIA,” Sulayem said. “You can’t isolate people just because they voted against you.”
But one incident has stuck in his mind: “Once someone came up to me and said, ‘Don’t think we would ever allow an Arab Muslim.’ My goodness, in front of everybody. And you know what I did? I smiled.”
In the meantime, however, many views have changed, he said. “It’s not about skin colour. We are an association, an international one. And we are very happy to receive criticism, but it has to be productive,” Sulayem said.
He has already been elected president once by FIA members, but is it enough to possibly be elected again for a second term in two years’ time? “They seem very happy,” he says. “But if there’s someone who makes them even happier: it’s a democracy. “
