Mohammed Ben Sulayem elected FIA president, succeeding Jean Todt

Mohammed Ben Sulayem is the new FIA president, beating Graham Stoker in the vote to succeed Jean Todt.

Todt completed his third and final term as FIA president in 2021, but will now hand over the reins of motorsport's world governing body to Sulayem, 60, following a vote on Friday at the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile Annual General Assembly.

Following the vote, the Emrati tweeted...

So, who is Mohammed Ben Sulayem?

Sulayem is one of the Arab world's leading motorsport figures with a rallying career spanning three decades. He holds 14 FIA Middle East Rally Championship titles in the years 1986-1991, 1994, and 1996-2002, establishing himself as a sporting ambassador for the region.

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He was the first Arab to be elected to the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council and previously served as vice-president for sport with the FIA. Along with his achievements as a driver, Sulayem was the leader of the organizing team, which introduced the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix into F1.

Sulayem campaigned under the banner “FIA for Members,” committing to double motorsport participation worldwide, strengthening diversity and inclusion, and becoming a leading opinion-former on sustainable mobility.

Running his campaign, he has promised a “fresh approach” and says that “the FIA must encourage a culture of democratic and transparent governance. I am proud to lead such an experienced and passionate team that is focused on delivering what the members want and need.”

F1 Journalists note that the FIA President has a hell of a lot more to the job than F1, but one of his most high-profile early tasks will be the outcome of the "detailed analysis" into what happened at Sunday's Formula One race in Abu Dhabi.