Mohammed bin Sulayem is the new president of the FIA

(Motorsport-Total.com) – Jean Todt’s successor has been named: Mohamed Ben Sulayem was elected as the new FIA President at the FIA ​​General Assembly on Friday. He won 61.6 percent of the vote against Graham Stoker, who served as Vice President of Sports under Todd.

Todd finished his third and final term as FIA President after a total of twelve years in the position. It was officially adopted on Thursday at the FIA ​​Gala in Paris.

60-year-old Bin Sulayem can look back on a long career as a rally driver. He won the Middle East Rally Championship 14 times before turning to politics.

A new era begins with Bin Sulayem

He was the first Arab to be elected to the FIA ​​World Motorsport Council, where he became Vice President for the Middle East. In 2009 he played a major role in bringing Formula 1 to Abu Dhabi.

The choice of Dubai-born Bin Sulayem marks a break with the past as he will be the first non-European to hold the position of FIA President.

With his campaign under the slogan “FIFA Members” he campaigned for it To double participation in motorsports around the worldTo promote diversity and inclusion and to be a leading opinion maker for sustainable mobility.

Elected to an initial four-year term, he appointed Carmelo Sanz de Barros as President of the Senate, Robert Reed as Vice President of Sports, and Tim Sherman as Vice President of Mobility.

Ben Sulayem said: “I am honored to be elected president of the FIA ​​at the conclusion of the annual general meeting in Paris today.” “I would like to thank all the member clubs for their appreciation and trust.”

He also addressed his predecessor: “On behalf of the FIA ​​and its members, I would like to express my boundless gratitude to Jean Todt for everything he has accomplished over the past twelve years. I am determined to continue the important work of motorsport and to further the movement.”

Congratulations from Todd and Domenicali

Todd came to a positive conclusion at the farewell party: “Together we can be satisfied with what we have achieved in the past 12 years in motorsport and safe and sustainable mobility.”

“I would like to thank my team, our management and all our member clubs for their tireless commitment, enthusiasm and perseverance. I congratulate Mohamed on his election as FIA President and wish him, his team and the Federation every success in the past years come.

Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali thanked Todd for his efforts, particularly in the areas of safety and sustainability. “We will miss him and wish him all the best for the future and the next chapter in his amazing career,” he said in an official statement.

Domencalli congratulated the new FIA President on his election: “Formula 1 and the FIA ​​are always determined to ensure the long-term success of our sport, and I know that will also be the case under his new leadership.”

“I look forward to working closely with him and his team as we have to maintain the momentum and focus on the big issues the sport is facing,” said the CEO.

In his #ThinkingForward series from Motorsport.com, Ben Sulayem stated in the context of his application that motorsports must grow and become affordable worldwide, that regional championships must be expanded and more young drivers be given the opportunity to enter the races.

“My intention is to find better and more affordable roads for young drivers,” he said. “This is change. You can’t just repeat what the previous president did, it won’t work. The challenges are different.”

“Like I said, the landscape is changing, but that won’t change one major thing: creating better, more affordable pathways for young people.”