Seems like trouble brewing. https://racer.com/2024/11/28/mayer-hits-out-at-ben-sulayem-after-becoming-latest-fia-sacking/ BHW
Is there a FIA Constitution ? a way to remove Ben Sulayem legally ? How long is his "term of office" ? and when does it end ? Those are the questions people have to ask, but I am afraid that, like most sporting federations, the FIA is not too democratic anyway.
IIRC next year the vote will be, so far he's running unopposed....somehow. I really hope Stefan Johansson will run. He's one of the few that speaks total sense on F1.
Well, if Ben Sulayem is predicted to run unopposed, that means that corruption has already done its work. The FIA President is elected by national federations, most of them have no tradition of racing, and can easily be "influenced". It's all very political and a sad state of affairs.
Has Stefan said he is interested in the role? That would be great. I enjoyed several chats with him in Florida twenty years ago, he has a true love and appreciation of the sport and its history.
Wikipedia says that MBS was 14 times Middle East Rally champion, winning 60 events. That can't be bad, no ?
regional rally champion in a time when the region had virtually no motorsports scene. go look at his WRC results, all in great equipment (third entries for factory Toyota and Ford teams etc), they were pretty poor I'm the 7,459 time Incognito family house to grocery store champion.
Result of a recent independant poll strongly points towards MBS's unpopularity: During Todt’s presidency of the governing body, RaceFans routinely polled you, the readers, about how you gauged the performance of the former Ferrari team principal in his new role. After 1,000 days of Ben Sulayem’s presidency, now seems an appropriate time to ask how you feel about Ben Sulayem’s performance as FIA president thus far. As an organisation, the FIA oversees far more than just Formula 1 and single-seater motorsport. Its mobility pillar is no less important to the organisation, but is mostly entirely separate from Formula 1. Previously, with Jean Todt, RaceFans only asked for your assessment of his performance in regards to Formula 1. Therefore, please base your judgement of Ben Sulayem’s performance on how his organisation has handled F1 matters during his time at the helm. As an F1 fan, do you approve or disapprove of Mohammed Ben Sulayem's performance as FIA President? No opinion (10%) Disapprove (80%) Approve (10%) Total Voters: 151
It's very difficult to gather the support of Federations and Automobile clubs all around the world if you are not already in the system. There is a lot of horse trading behind close doors, that doesn't get the scrutiny usually politics get. J.M Ballestre (President of the French Federation), Max Mosley (President of FOCA), Jean Todt (ex-Ferrari Manager), or Ben Sulayem (official in the Middle East) were well known figures and had years to mount an inside campaign to get elected. In spite of his notoriety as a rally champion, Harry Vatanen failed, for exemple: he was only an Euro MP, an outsider.
Ben Sulayem’s CORRUPTION EXPOSED After MORE Controversial SACKINGS! Ben Sulayem’s CORRUPTION EXPOSED After MORE Controversial SACKINGS! - YouTube
MBS just continuing the fine example the FIA has set with Balestre and Mosley, it would be great if F1 could rid itself of the plague that is the FIA. I know the FIA owns the rights and sets the rules for Formula 1, but it has shown a level of corruption, entitlement and incompetence that F1 should separate itself from.
The issue is that from the outside we don’t know each and every story to each sacking from Ben. If he is essentially a change agent then this would be par for the coarse.
The Saudi's bought the FIA. how can a country like Chad have an FIA member? when the Dakkar ran through the country ??? that qualifies? I'd say its time that F-1 through F-4 simply set up their own championship, and run the whole thing themselves. I know the FIA will sue, etc... but you can starve them of money... The Saudi's wanted it so they can keep pressure on MFG's to keep making gas run cars.... not to mention ARAMCO advertising.... Since Bernie made the FIA rich they have been a problem.
