By James Broughton, January 29, 2025
The Formula One governing body, the FIA, has historically been a peculiar organization. Founded 120 years ago, it serves two primary functions: a mobility division representing the automotive industry and a sporting division overseeing international motorsport disciplines and championships, including its crown jewel, Formula One.
I remember the presidency of Jean-Marie Balestre, a controversial figure with a dark past as a former member of the French Nazi division during World War II. Balestre wielded authoritarian control over Formula One, frequently clashing with Ayrton Senna, who accused him of favouring fellow Frenchman Alain Prost at the infamous 1989 Japanese Grand Prix. The title-deciding race ended in a dramatic collision on the first corner of the opening lap. Balestre’s successor, Max Mosley, also had ties to the far right—albeit through circumstances largely beyond his control.
Mosley, despite his personal controversies, was arguably the most intellectual FIA President. He applied his legal acumen to ensure a fair and balanced approach to governance and played a pivotal role in improving motorsport safety—a legacy that endures today.
Jean Todt, Mosley’s successor, preferred a low-profile approach, working quietly behind the scenes with seemingly effortless efficiency. In contrast, Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s tenure has been marked by chaos and unpredictability, providing Formula One media with ample material during slow news days.
The Ben Sulayem Era
On a quiet day in F1? Just feature Mohammed Ben Sulayem—he’s always making headlines, often by slipping into controversy. Now, however, his leadership seems to be taking a more authoritarian turn. His latest move is a proposed amendment to the FIA’s sporting code for 2025, which would impose a one-race ban on drivers who repeatedly swear.
The penalty reportedly includes a month-long race suspension and a points deduction for what amounts to being “guilty of being human.” Unconfirmed reports suggest significant internal opposition within the FIA to this rule change. The Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) has yet to comment, but it’s not hard to imagine the choice words likely used to express their views on this latest directive.
If any argument can be made, it likely pertains to the global audience now following Formula One. Perhaps the FIA aims to present a sanitized, clean-cut image of the sport. However, having dealt with FIA officials in the past, I can attest that some of them behaved more like thugs than professionals. This new code of conduct ruling is not only absurd but also deeply hypocritical.
What does this say about Mohammed Ben Sulayem? Compared to his predecessors, he often comes across as a clown—a lightweight, dictatorial clown at that.
