FIA President begins new term with messages from Wolff and Brown

13:45, 05 Jan

byKada Sarkozi

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem looks forward to his next term in charge with messages from Toto Wolff and Zak Brown among others.

Ben Sulayem was elected to serve a second term as President of the FIA last December in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

The Emirati ran unopposed on the ballot, after the World Motor Sport Council selected only a single vice-presidential candidate from the South American region, Fabiana Ecclestone, who supported Ben Sulayem. That effectively eliminated all of his contenders.

Ahead of his next term, a series of messages from figures around the world of motorsport were posted on Ben Sulayem's Instagram account.

Messages came from, among others, Mercedes CEO and team boss Wolff, McLaren CEO Brown, and former F1 Supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

"He has a wide understanding of motorsports beyond Formula 1, has funded grassroots sports, has channeled funds into safety."

- Toto Wolff

Wolff said: "He has a wide understanding of motorsports beyond Formula 1, has funded grassroots sports, has channeled funds into safety.

"Formula 1 is in a great place, and we need to continue to shape it going forward with the President, the FIA, Liberty, and the teams, aligned and develop it into the next stage, taking nothing for granted."

Zak Brown and Toto Wolff at COTA - Photo: Race Pictures

Brown continued: "The president's greatest achievement to date has been getting the Concorde Agreement for 2026 and beyond completed quietly, out of the media, and in a fair and balanced way.

"I think the sport has never been healthier. There's a real focus on what's right for the sport. And that, of course, has been led by the president and Stefano [Domenicali] working closely together. Very happy with where the sport is."

Ecclestone encouraged the Emirati to follow his current path in his message. The Briton added: "He's done a first-class job. He's straightforward, completely honest, not doing things for himself, but doing things for the people he represents. If he just carries on the way he's been carrying on this term, that would be good. In fact, it would be excellent."

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