Could 15 (GMM) FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem says he doesn’t care about reputation as criticism of his management continues following his re-election for a second time period.
The controversial Emirati has confronted sustained backlash throughout his presidency over governance disputes, political tensions contained in the FIA and repeated clashes with Method 1 stakeholders.
However talking to Forbes, Ben Sulayem insisted the governing physique’s function is to not win public help. “Individuals don’t perceive the FIA,” he mentioned.
“The FIA is a federation. Now we have 245 members in 149 nations. The FIA will not be Method 1 solely.”
Ben Sulayem careworn that Method 1 represents just one a part of a a lot wider organisation overseeing world motorsport and mobility.
“Method 1 is a world championship beneath the FIA,” he mentioned.
“Now we have karting, now we have rallying, now we have cross-country, now we have GT, now we have Method E, now we have so many championships.”
Ben Sulayem argued that the FIA’s core accountability is neutral governance, even when that makes the organisation unpopular with followers.
“What’s our mission? To be truthful with everybody and to make the very best for the game,” he mentioned.
“You realize, you gained’t get – I’ll by no means get followers.”
He mentioned criticism inevitably follows stewarding selections.
“When our referees, that are the stewards, take a call of a 5-second due to a mistake of a driver, that’s the penalty,” Ben Sulayem defined. “After which you could have individuals getting upset.”
However he made clear that reputation is irrelevant to the FIA.
“We’re not there to have followers, we’re there to be truthful with everybody,” he mentioned. “We don’t want followers.
“We should be revered. We should be truthful. We should be clear.”
Ben Sulayem additionally strongly defended the FIA’s central authority over Method 1 amid ongoing energy tensions between the governing physique, Liberty Media and groups.
“If Method 1 goes, if the FIA goes, Method 1 goes with it,” he mentioned.
“It’s quite simple. No FIA, no Method 1.”
He famous that industrial rights holders, groups and presidents all ultimately change, whereas the FIA stays everlasting.
“The promoters can change,” Ben Sulayem mentioned. “Groups come and go, drivers come and go. “Presidents come and go, however the FIA will at all times keep.”
“You take away me, there’s Method 1. You take away the FIA, there’s no Method 1. It’s so simple as this.”
