FIA President Ben Sulayem Dismisses 'Laughable' Attacks From 'Disconnected' Candidate Mayer

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Last Updated:July 06, 2025, 19:00 IST

FIA President Ben Sulayem dismissed claims of a toxic work culture as laughable. Facing re-election against Tim Mayer, he defended his leadership and changes.

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem brushed off accusations of a toxic work culture within motorsport’s governing body, describing the notion of a “reign of terror" as laughable.

Ben Sulayem is seeking re-election for a second term after initially being voted into office in 2021. So far, his only declared challenger is American motorsport official Tim Mayer, who announced his candidacy on Friday during a press conference ahead of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Mayer Slams Leadership, Cites ‘Reign of Terror’

Mayer, 59, a longtime FIA figure and son of former McLaren team boss Teddy Mayer, criticized the current administration, citing a lack of leadership and a harmful internal culture.

“Those people work very hard. They deserve leadership that provides them with tools, with a vision, with resources—and more than anything else, does not have a reign of terror every time they walk into the office," Mayer said.

Ben Sulayem Calls Accusation ‘Disconnected from Reality’

Ben Sulayem rejected the accusation outright in comments to Reuters, saying he found the claim absurd.

“I just laughed. I actually had a smile. I said whoever is saying this, they are disconnected with the FIA. Honestly," he said.

“You go to the FIA and just enter and see. Sit with them, tell them it’s just between you and them, and ask them the question. I think maybe he’s confusing the period," he added.

Ben Sulayem’s presidency has seen a series of high-profile resignations, most notably that of Robert Reid, the former Deputy President for Sport, who stepped down in April.

Critics have also pointed to controversial changes to FIA statutes under Ben Sulayem, claiming they make it more difficult for potential rivals to mount effective campaigns against him.

Despite the turbulence, Ben Sulayem stood by his leadership style and the changes he had introduced.

With the election just months away, the Emirati also said he is fully prepared for the campaign and emphasized that the process will be conducted according to strict guidelines.

“We have such clear guidelines that now you cannot fiddle around with anything, and that will never happen—not in my reign."

(with Reuters inputs)

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...Read More

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News sports FIA President Ben Sulayem Dismisses 'Laughable' Attacks From 'Disconnected' Candidate Mayer

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