FIA President highlights key challenges, opportunities shaping motorsport
- Last updated: April 21, 2026 | 10:07
Motorsport leaders from across Middle East will join counterparts from Europe and Africa for three days of collaboration, innovation and knowledge sharing at the FIA Region I Spring meeting getting under way in Budva, Montenegro on Tuesday.
With FIA President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem in attendance, representatives from 102 member clubs will discuss priorities to advance safe and sustainable mobility for road users and motor sport for fans at the three-day congress, hosted by the Auto-Moto Association of Montenegro (AMSCG).
The FIA Region I spring meeting will also host commissions and working groups from across the network, with the International historic commission and Founding Members’ Club protecting and promoting motoring heritage, the FIA Eurocouncil supporting the future of mobility in Europe, and Clubs continuing to implement the Safe Mobility 4 All and 4 Life programme across the Region.
National Sporting Authorities will also be meeting in Montenegro to continue developing and improving motor sport for fans as well as advocating for enhanced driver safety on the track.
To celebrate the member clubs showcasing their commitment to improving mobility services in their countries and across Region I, the three FIA Innovation Challenge 2026 Regional Champions will also be announced during the week.
Ben Sulayem said: “I am delighted to be joining our members and partners in Budva for this important regional gathering, and I look forward to engaging with colleagues from across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East on the key challenges and opportunities shaping mobility and motorsport today.
“Montenegro provides a fitting backdrop for these discussions, as we consider how to strengthen transport systems, improve road safety, and support sustainable solutions that deliver safer, more sustainable, and more affordable mobility for all road users.
“This meeting is an important opportunity to deepen collaboration, share expertise across mobility and motorsport, and advance our shared priorities.”
In Montenegro, mobility is undergoing steady development, with continued investment in road infrastructure, including the opening of the Bar–Boljare motorway in 2022, helping to strengthen connectivity and support economic growth.
Recent road safety reforms and the Sustainable Transport Action Plan are driving progress towards safer, more sustainable mobility.
Wolff downplays Senna comparisons with Antonelli: Formula One leader Kimi Antonelli is performing as expected in his second season, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said on Monday while seeking to calm some of the more excitable headlines around the 19-year-old Italian after two wins in a row.
Antonelli, the youngest F1 championship leader and first Italian to win twice in succession since Alberto Ascari in 1953, leads experienced teammate George Russell by nine points.
“When it comes to Kimi, we’ve always been very clear in our objectives,” Wolff told reporters on a video call.
“Our first learning year with great performances, highlights, and then other moments where it’s going to be very difficult. And we’ve exactly seen that. And now we’re in the second year and he continues to develop in a way that we have hoped to see and forecast.
“Of course in Italy everybody wants to talk about world championships and comparisons to (late Brazilian triple champion Ayrton) Senna come up, which is something which I don’t enjoy to read because he’s a 19-year-old.”
Wolff praised Antonelli’s handling of the pressure.
“He copes very well,” he said. “I think in the team there’s times where we put our arm around him. Other times, we exercise more pressure. But overall everything is coming together as expected.”
Wolff said Russell, who started the season as title favourite and team leader on track, had been unlucky after winning the opener in Australia.
The Briton started and finished second in China after a problem hit his qualifying and he then had to fight back after an early safety car period left him second in the queue for fresh tyres at Mercedes. In Japan Russell was fourth after the safety car was deployed just after he had pitted while leading Antonelli, who had yet to come in for fresh tyres and did so while staying ahead.