Mohammed Ben Sulayem elected new FIA president

Mohammed Ben Sulayem has been elected as the new president of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). He succeeds Jean Todt, who retires from the role after 12 years, having served the maximum three terms possible.

• Sulayem succeeds Todt as FIA president
• Won 61.6 percent of votes
• Todt retires after serving three terms

Mohammed Ben Sulayem career

Sulayem won 61.6 percent of the votes from FIA member clubs, defeating Brit Graham Stoker, who served as the FIA’s deputy president for sport under Todt. He becomes the first non-European president of motorsport’s governing body. 

Born in Dubai, Sulayem is a 14-time Middle East rally champion and was previously vice president of mobility and tourism at the FIA. He has been the chairman of the United Arab Emirates motorsport federation since 2006.

He has been elected for a four-year term and has appointed Carmelo Sanz de Barros as president of the Senate, Robert Reid as deputy president for Sport and Tim Shearman as deputy president for Mobility.

Sulayem looks to push diversity in motorsport

Among his election promises for his four-year term, Ben Sulayem has vowed to double motorsport participation, put best-practice governance structures in place and bolster diversity and inclusion.

“I thank all the Member Clubs for their esteem and trust. I congratulate Graham for his campaign and his engagement to the Federation. I wish to express my infinite gratitude in the name of the FIA and that of its Members to Jean Todt for all that has been achieved over the past 12 years. I am committed to pursuing the important work and make motor sport and mobility take further steps forward,” he said.