Emirati motorsports legend Ben Sulayem secures second term as FIA president

The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, on Friday confirmed that Mohammed Ben Sulayem has been re-elected as President of the FIA, following the election of his presidential list by the general assembly in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

President Mohammed Ben Sulayem now begins his second four-year term, having overseen a period of significant renewal and stabilisation for the organisation since his initial election in 2021.

Over the past four years, the FIA has undergone a wide-ranging transformation, improving governance, operations and restoring the financial health of the federation.

These changes have strengthened the FIA’s position as the world’s governing body for motorsport and the leading authority on safe, sustainable, and affordable mobility.

Under Ben Sulayem’s leadership the FIA has reversed a €-24.0m loss in 2021 to a robust operating result of €4.7m in 2024, the strongest financial result the federation has seen in almost 10 years.

On Friday at the FIA Annual General Assemblies, the FIA announced a 2025 operating result forecast of €4.4m, showing continued momentum and sustained financial improvement. This renewed stability has enabled increased long-term investment in Member Clubs and strategic programmes worldwide.

Underpinning this momentum is wider institutional reform over the last four years, with strengthened budgetary discipline, enhanced external audit processes and modernised governance structures, resulting in greater transparency, accountability and professional standards across the organisation.

In addition to these reforms, the FIA has established a commercial function and strengthened its global institutional identity across both motorsport and mobility, expanding regional development activity, supporting grassroots participation, and deepening engagement with international partners on safety, sustainable mobility and the future of transport.

President Ben Sulayem said: “Thank you to all our FIA Members for voting in remarkable numbers and placing your trust in me once again. We have overcome many obstacles but here today, together, we are stronger than ever.

“It is truly an honour to be FIA President, and I am committed to continuing to deliver for the FIA, for motorsport, for mobility, and for our Member Clubs in every region around the world.”

The election was conducted in line with the FIA’s statutes through a robust and transparent voting process, reflecting the democratic foundations of the federation and the collective voice of its global membership.

Ben Sulayem brings a deep racing pedigree to the role. A fourteen-time FIA Middle East Rally champion, he secured 61 international victories as a driver between 1983 and 2002.

The 2025 F1 season concluded in spectacular fashion in Abu Dhabi, where Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won the final race at the Yas Marina Circuit, and McLaren’s Lando Norris secured a podium finish to claim the overall drivers’ championship.

Prior to his first term as FIA President, of which he is the first non-European to be elected, he was FIA Vice President for Sport and Member of the World Motor Sport Council, a Founding Member of ACTAC, Chair of ACTAC, and Vice President for Automobile Mobility and Tourism.

He has been the President of the FIA since 2021 and founded the United Against Online Abuse Campaign in 2023.

Online abuse is recognised as one of the biggest issues facing the world of sport today, posing a threat to performance, welfare and participation, affecting athletes, officials, volunteers and fans at every level of sport.

Looking ahead, next season promises excitement with significant technical updates, including new regulations that will make the cars shorter, narrower, and lighter, and introduce movable “active aerodynamics.”