Ecclestone admires Ben Sulayem: “He works for the good of F1, I don’t see what he did wrong”

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the steamroller The “political” news of the week is the removal of the three-term limit for the president of the FIA: another great victory for Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who thus hopes to capitalize on the support from many national federations around the world and remain in the saddle for a long time to come, potentially for life. And this even if the obstacle of 70 years remains which, by statute, is the maximum acceptable age for a president of the International Automobile Federation: the next reform objective of the 64-year-old Emirati. In short, Ben Sulayem is a steamroller capable of obtaining Bulgarian majorities (the reform on the three-term limit was approved with over 90% of votes in favour): an aspect that arouses a certain admiration in… Bernie Ecclestone. Click here to add Formula Passion as your favorite source on Google Discover: you will find our content more easily Bernie Ecclestone, so much praise for the FIA ​​president! The former Supreme of the Formula 1 circus, now a lively 95-year-old, remained in charge of the GP paddock until 2016, the year in which Liberty Media took over from the previous owners of the CVC Capital fund. A new management that immediately also became a new course, with Chase Carey positioned in Ecclestone’s place and then with the subsequent change with the current president and CEO of Formula One Group, Stefano Domenicali. Not without friction with the FIA, especially since, in 2021, Mohammed Ben Sulayem replaced Jean Todt (forced not to run again due to the new mandate limit now eliminated by statute). “I’m trying to think of something that Mohammed Ben Sulayem has done wrong in his mandate – explains Bernie Ecclestone to RacingNews365 – but it’s not an easy task. I think he’s trying to make everything work fairly and a little in step with the times. Unfortunately, as in all these things, you can’t be 1000% right every time. But for now I don’t see anything that he has done wrong that he shouldn’t have done, and there are one or two things that I hope he can resolve in future.” The reference is to the choice to return to V8s, confirmed several times by FIA leaders in view of the next regulatory cycle which will start in 2030 or 2031 at the latest: “I would like a three-litre engine, it doesn’t matter if V8, V10 or V12. The important thing is that everyone is happy and I think it’s the right thing to do”. Appreciation for Ben Sulayem’s financial results There was also an opportunity to highlight the positive economic data recently announced by the FIA ​​just after the World Council held in Macao. “It’s a difficult job to do, because he inherited a situation that he didn’t create, so it wasn’t like Liberty Media. He was elected to take care of something he had no idea about. He didn’t know what was coming and he’s finding out all the dos and don’ts. And I think he’s done a great job financially because he’s putting the FIA ​​back in the position it should have been in a long time ago.” “Do they earn money? Well, there is no reason why this should be considered a crime. There is an organization to run and to do so you need funds, just as you need for all the other initiatives he is carrying out in support of the Federations in general. Ben Sulayem does not take money, he is not there for his own economic interests, but to do his best for the sport he deals with”, concluded Bernie Ecclestone.

Automobile Magazine – Formula1 English, News

2026-06-30 06:00:00