Skip to content
GO TO bet365 Sports
F1
  1. F1

Mohammed Ben Sulayem: Biography, age, net worth, F1 influence and more

An increasingly prominent and powerful figure in the world of motorsport, Mohammed Ben Sulayem's tenure as FIA president has been shrouded in controversy.

The former rally driver succeeded Jean Todt as the first non-European supremo of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile in December 2021 in the wake of the contentious Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where Max Verstappen famously claimed his maiden Formula 1 world championship.

On top of his presidential duties, Ben Sulayem is the UN Tourism's Ambassador for Sustainable Tourism in Sport, a position he obtained in September 2024.

Amid increasing scrutiny of his leadership and moves to consolidate his political power, we profile Ben Sulayem and his influence on F1.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem - Biography

Who is Mohammed Ben Sulayem?

Ben Sulayem is president of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the international governing body of motorsport.

Born in the Trucial States (now UAE), Ben Sulayem's family were a notable force in the country's political and economic landscape, with his father serving as an advisor to Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed al-Maktoum - the man who was largely responsible for creating the modern emirate of Dubai.

Familial standing encouraged Ben Sulayem to go the way of business and he graduated with a bachelor's degree American University in Washington D.C. before venturing into motor racing.

A domineering figure in the Middle East Rally Championship, Ben Sulayem amassed 60 wins and 14 titles, making him the most successful driver in the series until his records were broken by Nasser Al-Attiyah.

He made 23 appearances in the World Rally Championship, although his best finish was 6th in the 1993 Rally Argentina.

Having received four Medal of Honours during his racing career, including one from King Abdullah of Jordan in 1999, Ben Sulayem retired in 2002 and transitioned into a variety of administrative roles within motorsport, resulting in his election as president of the Emirates Motorsports Organisation (EMO).

Providing UAE representation to the FIA, Ben Sulayem was elected FIA vice president in 2008 and incorporated as a member of the FIA World Motor Sport Council. He played a pivotal role in the creation of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which has since established itself as a staple of the F1 calendar.

The 14-time Middle East Rally Champion challenged for FIA presidency in 2013 but opted to withdraw, with Ben Sulayem instead chairing the FIA's newly-formed Motor Sport Development Task Force with the aim of assembling a ten-year plan which would enhance the sport's global development.

Following Todt's decision to retire upon conclusion of his third term, Ben Sulayem went head-to-head with Graham Stoker for FIA presidency and received a clear majority vote from FIA Member Clubs (61.62%).

Mohammed Ben Sulayem - Age

How old is Mohammed Ben Sulayem?

Ben Sulayem is 63 years old and was born on the 12th November 1961.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem - Net Worth

How much is Mohammed Ben Sulayem worth & what is his net worth?

Despite the knowledge of his family's business empire, Ben Sulayem's own personal net worth is unknown.

He does, however, possess an illustrious car collection, which is believed to be worth over $75m (£59m). Included in that supercar collection is a trio of incredibly rare Koenigsegg: the Agera RS, Regera and Chimera.

If that wasn't already mouth-watering enough, Ben Sulayem's garage consists of iconic machinery in the form of three Ferrari hypercars - the Enzo, F40, and F50 - along with the Porsche 959, Bugatti Veyron SS, McLaren P1 and Pagani Zonda.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem - F1 influence

Since taking office in December 2021, Ben Sulayem has been involved in a string of controversial incidents which have threatened to undermine both his and the FIA's authority.

His immediate task when fulfilling FIA presidential duties was to address the fall-out from the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after Ben Sulayem's predecessor Todt launched an inquiry into the actions undertaken by race director Michael Masi.

Matters were not dealt with swiftly as the FIA took action two months after the incident with the removal of Masi and a proposed restructure of race control. Tension was heightened following the FIA gala, an event Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff refused to attend in protest, prompting Ben Sulayem to suggest there was "no forgiveness" in the actions of the pair.

Hamilton was at the forefront of a new row months later as the FIA forbid drivers from wearing jewellery during races. Hamilton suggested his nose ring could not be easily removed and after a series of compromises, the seven-time world champion eventually had it taken off three months after the rule was introduced.

It was not the first dispute involving drivers. In late 2022, a clause was included to the sporting code that prohibited drivers from making “political, religious and personal statements or comments” without the written permission of the FIA. Following complaints, the FIA produced a document to clarify the clause, outlining that drivers could still share their personal views "in their own space".

In 2024, there was further driver outrage after Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc were punished for swearing.

The Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA) were critical of Ben Sulayem for his "tone and language" when addressing the topic in an interview, with the Emirati stating it was "distasteful" to broadcast swear words during a Grand Prix.

Away from the drivers, there have been clashes with the F1 hierarchy. Ben Sulayem initially blocked the increase of sprint weekends for the 2023 season, despite teams unanimously agreeing on the idea. By the time the campaign came around, the number of sprints increased from three to six.

Ben Sulayem later questioned F1's value amid reports of a failed £20bn bid from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, suggesting the price tag was "inflated". F1's lawyers responded with a warning of "regulatory consequences", with an FIA spokesperson suggesting Ben Sulayem just wished to express his personal opinion on the matter.

In March 2024, following allegations from a whistleblower, Ben Sulayem was cleared of interfering in race decisions.

Concerning the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, where Fernando Alonso received a 10-second penalty due to a mechanic pushing a rear jack into the back of the car whilst the Spaniard was serving a five-second stop and go, it was alleged Ben Sulayem had demanded the penalty be revoked.

Alonso's penalty was subsequently overturned, although the stewards justified the decision.

The second allegation had accused Ben Sulayem of interfering with the Las Vegas Grand Prix, with the whistleblower suggesting that the FIA president had asked officials not to certify the strip circuit, thus preventing the race from going ahead.

At the end of 2024, revisions to the FIA's rules regarding the governance of audit and ethics committees were approved. Consequentially the audit committee's power to investigate financial issues had been revoked, and any ethics complaints were to be reviewed by the president, Ben Sulayem, or the president of the senate.

Related Articles

bet365 uses cookies

We use cookies to deliver a better and more personalised service. For more information, see our Cookie Policy

New to bet365? Bet £10 & Get £50 in Free Bets Join Now

Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.