F1 president Mohammed Ben Sulayem steps aside after latest sexism controversy

Sexist remarks, clashing with drivers, interference with races and a wealth of other controversies have forced a huge change in F1 just weeks out from the season opener.

Lewis Hamilton clashed with Ben Sulayem over a number of issues

The president of motor sport’s governing body, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, has given up day-to-day control of Formula One after a string of controversies during his time at the helm.

The 61-year-old former rally driver took over as president of the FIA, which governs F1 and other motor racing competitions, in December 2021. He announced his decision to step aside yesterday (Wednesday) in a letter to team principals.

Ben Sulayem, who is from the UAE, has clashed with F1 over his comments about the sport’s value and for saying that drivers would face sanctions for making political statements.

Last month it was revealed historical sexist remarks on his now-defunct personal website, in which he said that he does “not like women who think they are smarter than men”. The FIA said that the sexist remarks did not reflect his beliefs.

Ben Sulayem said in his letter that the FIA’s director of single-seater racing, Nikolas Tombazis, would now be the main point of contact for F1.

“My stated objective was to be a non-executive president via the recruitment of a team of professional managers, which has now been largely completed,” he wrote.

“Therefore, going forward, your day-to-day contact for all matters on F1 will be with Nikolas and his team, while I will focus on strategic matters with my leadership team.”

Ben Sulayem, who remains in charge of the FIA, was centre stage in F1 last season, handing out trophies at a number of grands prix.

Last month he was accused of “unacceptable” interference by F1 in response to a series of tweets in which he said a $28 billion valuation of the sport was “inflated”.

Ben Sulayem was told that the FIA could be “liable” for harming the financial value of F1’s owner, Liberty Media.

He also clashed with Lewis Hamilton over the wearing of jewellery in the cockpit last season, while the FIA has recently moved to prevent drivers from making “political, religious or personal” comments without prior approval.

Speaking at the launch of Williams’s 2023 car this week, the British-Thai driver Alex Albon said that the drivers were “concerned” by the FIA’s decision.

F1’s chief executive, Stefano Domenicali, said on Tuesday: “F1 will never put a gag on anyone. Everyone wants to talk, so [it is right to give them] the platform to say what they want in the right way. I believe the FIA will clarify what has been stated.”