formula 1
Zoff and sexism allegations: Fia boss Sulayem in the criticism
Mohammed ben Sulayem’s behavior has repeatedly drawn criticism. photo
© Hasan Bratic/dpa
Mohammed Ben Sulayem has not made many friends in Formula 1 so far. The Fia President often offended during his short tenure. Now there are new allegations of bullying and sexism.
Sufficient sleep is said to be particularly important to Mohammed Ben Sulayem. Appointments well before noon are therefore very difficult to arrange with the powerful President of the International Automobile Association Fia, according to the Formula 1 paddock.
And there was more than enough need to talk to the 61-year-old from the United Arab Emirates in the almost one and a half years of his turbulent tenure. Whether it’s trouble with the Formula 1 owners, criticism from the drivers or allegations of bullying and sexism: the former rally driver has recently been more in focus than he should.
Before the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Sunday (1 p.m. / Sky) in Baku, the Fia reacted to the latest allegations. Former employee Shaila-Ann Rao, former interim general secretary, wrote a letter before her sudden departure at the end of last year in which she complained about sexist behavior. These allegations against Ben Sulayem are said to have never been investigated.
Yelled at employee
The world association denied this and spoke of a “proper procedure with an amicable negotiation”. However, there was still no possible forwarding of the matter to the Fia Ethics Committee. Furthermore, “no complaints” were received against Ben Sulayem. According to the English “Telegraph”, Rao is said to have felt humiliated by the president. Among other things, he is said to have publicly yelled at the lawyer, who was well-respected in the scene, in Belgium in 2022 in the paddock.
A quote had previously appeared on his old website from 2001 that Ben Sulayem brought in criticism for his image of women. A passage about him said: “I love the desert and I love meeting real people”. But he doesn’t like to talk “about money, and I don’t like women who think they’re smarter than men because they really aren’t.”
Here, too, the Fia reacted. A spokesman said the comments “do not reflect the President’s beliefs.” After all, he was “very committed to the advancement of women and equality in sport”. That’s what he “likes to be measured” by. The impression that arose, however, was different.
Ban on private underwear in the cockpit
The first Fia President who does not come from Europe has also hardly been convincing technically. With the ban on wearing jewelry and private underwear in the cockpit, Jean Todt’s successor, who was elected in December 2021, caused offense among the pilots around record world champion Lewis Hamilton. His statements about the commercial marketing of Formula 1 triggered a fire letter from the owners. Ben Sulayem’s statements about an alleged multi-billion dollar purchase offer from Saudi Arabia would “encroach on our rights in an unacceptable manner,” criticized the owners of Liberty Media.
Ben Sulayem had described a takeover bid for Formula 1 of more than 20 billion US dollars (around 18.4 billion euros at the time) allegedly considered by the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund last year as excessive. Liberty Media paid around $4.4 billion in 2017. Ben Sulayem also formulated advice for potential buyers, but these things are not at all his remit. Previously, public support for expanding the starting field to include the US project by Michael Andretti and Cadillac caused displeasure. The majority of the ten current racing teams do not want to share the growing billions in revenue with newcomers and want to keep to themselves.
“He looks where the cameras are”
Ben Sulayem has meanwhile withdrawn from the day-to-day business of Formula 1 – according to the official statement, that was the plan from the start. He is also responsible for the other series under the umbrella of the Fia, but was noticeably happy to be in the limelight at the beginning. The fact that he was looking for proximity to the British Mercedes drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton in front of the cameras during the minute’s silence for the deceased Queen last year was not well received in the paddock. “He doesn’t look at the rules, he looks where the cameras are,” said an unnamed team boss of “Sport Bild”.
Ben Sulayem missed the last two races in Saudi Arabia and Australia – albeit for a sad reason. His son Saif died in a car accident in Dubai in early March. It is unclear whether this is also the reason why the previously very communicative official deactivated his Twitter account. In Baku, the head of the world association is expected to be back on the track.