Latest news with #RobertReid
The Guardian
08-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem denies ‘reign of terror' claim from rival
The FIA president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, has denied accusations of a 'reign of terror' and suggested the governing body's member clubs are 'smiling' about the prospect of him serving another four years. Ben Sulayem's controversial first term as head of the FIA will come to an end in December. The 63-year-old has confirmed he will stand for a second term and is poised to face off against Tim Mayer after the American announced his candidacy in the buildup to Sunday's British Grand Prix. A number of high-profile figures have left the FIA under Ben Sulayem's stewardship. His deputy, Robert Reid, the former rally co-driver, resigned from his post earlier this year. Ben Sulayem has also had multiple run-ins with Formula One and the sport's biggest stars, notably Lewis Hamilton over the wearing of jewellery in the cockpit, and Max Verstappen on swearing. Launching his bid to run against Ben Sulayem, Mayer, who was sacked as chair of the FIA stewards in November, took aim at the Emirati's controversial leadership, describing it as 'a failure' and an 'illusion of integrity'. He also accused Ben Sulayem of marginalising women and rushing through statute amendments to enhance his power. In response, Ben Sulayem said: 'I feel for people [who] say this. They are disconnected from the FIA. He [Mayer] has worked as a steward. A steward doesn't mean you're an insider of the FIA. You're not staff. I have other things to do. I am really busy. I am not going to fall into this way of campaigning where I answer someone. He is free to say whatever he wants. 'But the FIA is bigger than me, bigger than anyone. It's not about the media. One thing is very clear. It is the members who vote. It's not anyone who is here to have a vote. It's them. If they decide they want me, or they want X, Y, Z, it's up to them. And I know that whatever I've been doing is good for the members. I've been very straight with them. 'Let's wait for the general assembly and let's see if they will get me out, then. They have the power to get me out. It's about the members. And when I see them smiling. Maybe, I don't know, maybe they're smiling, truly or not, but it's their decision.' Ben Sulayem initially clashed with F1 and the grid's 10 teams over the introduction of an 11th outfit. However, Cadillac – a division of American motoring giant General Motors and supported by TWG Motorsport – will be on the grid next season. Sign up to The Recap The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action after newsletter promotion Ben Sulayem said talks are ongoing with a Chinese manufacturer about the possibility of a 12th F1 entry. 'I still feel that we need more teams than more races. If there is a Chinese [bid] and I will speak on behalf of Formula One management now. Think of the long term. If there is another team from China, they will approve it 100% because it is good for business. Wouldn't it make more money with China coming in? I believe, yes. Do we have to fill up another team for the sake of filling up that 12th team. No, it will be the right team.'
The Guardian
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem denies he has overseen a ‘reign of terror'
The FIA president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, has denied accusations of a 'reign of terror' and suggested the governing body's member clubs are 'smiling' about the prospect of him serving another four years. Ben Sulayem's controversial first term as head of the FIA will come to an end in December. The 63-year-old has confirmed he will stand for a second term and is poised to face off against Tim Mayer after the American announced his candidacy in the buildup to Sunday's British Grand Prix. A number of high-profile figures have left the FIA under Ben Sulayem's stewardship. His deputy, Robert Reid, the former rally co-driver, resigned from his post earlier this year. Ben Sulayem has also had multiple run-ins with Formula One and the sport's biggest stars, notably Lewis Hamilton over the wearing of jewellery in the cockpit, and Max Verstappen, on swearing. Launching his bid to run against Ben Sulayem, Mayer, who was sacked as chairman of the FIA stewards in November, took aim at the Emirati's controversial leadership, describing it as 'a failure' and an 'illusion of integrity'. He also accused Ben Sulayem of marginalising women and rushing through statute amendments to enhance his power. In response, Ben Sulayem said: 'I feel for people [who] say this. They are disconnected from the FIA. He [Mayer] has worked as a steward. A steward doesn't mean you're an insider of the FIA. You're not staff. I have other things to do. I am really busy. I am not going to fall into this way of campaigning where I answer someone. He is free to say whatever he wants. 'But the FIA is bigger than me, bigger than anyone. It's not about the media. One thing is very clear. It is the members who vote. It's not anyone who is here to have a vote. It's them. If they decide they want me, or they want X, Y, Z, it's up to them. And I know that whatever I've been doing is good for the members. I've been very straight with them. 'Let's wait for the general assembly and let's see if they will get me out, then. They have the power to get me out. It's about the members. And when I see them smiling. Maybe, I don't know, maybe they're smiling, truly or not, but it's their decision.' Ben Sulayem initially clashed with F1 and the grid's 10 teams over the introduction of an 11th outfit. However, Cadillac – a division of American motoring giant General Motors and supported by TWG Motorsport – will be on the grid next season. Sign up to The Recap The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action after newsletter promotion Ben Sulayem said talks are ongoing with a Chinese manufacturer about the possibility of a 12th F1 entry. 'I still feel that we need more teams than more races. If there is a Chinese [bid] and I will speak on behalf of Formula One management now. Think of the long term. If there is another team from China, they will approve it 100% because it is good for business. Wouldn't it make more money with China coming in? I believe, yes. Do we have to fill up another team for the sake of filling up that 12th team. No, it will be the right team.'
The Independent
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Mohammed Ben Sulayem hits back at claim that his FIA tenure is ‘reign of terror'
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has denied accusations of a 'reign of terror' and suggested the governing body's member clubs are 'smiling' about the prospect of him serving another four years. Ben Sulayem's controversial first term as head of the FIA will come to an end in December. The 63-year-old has confirmed he will stand for a second term and is set to face Tim Mayer after the American announced his candidacy in the build-up to Sunday's British Grand Prix. A number of high-profile figures have left the FIA under Ben Sulayem's stewardship. His deputy, Robert Reid, the former rally co-driver, resigned from his post earlier this year. Ben Sulayem has also had multiple run-ins with Formula One and the sport's biggest stars, notably Lewis Hamilton over the wearing of jewellery in the cockpit, and Max Verstappen, on swearing. Launching his bid to run against Ben Sulayem, Mayer, who was sacked as chairman of the FIA stewards in November, took aim at the Emirati's controversial leadership, describing it as 'a failure' and an 'illusion of integrity'. He also accused Ben Sulayem of marginalising women and rushing through statute amendments to enhance his power. But in response, Ben Sulayem said: 'I feel for people (who) say this. They are disconnected from the FIA. He has worked as a steward. A steward doesn't mean you're an insider of the FIA. You're not staff. 'I have other things to do. I am really busy. I am not going to fall into this way of campaigning where I answer someone. He is free to say whatever he wants. 'But the FIA is bigger than me, bigger than anyone. It's not about the media. One thing is very clear. It is the members who vote. It's not anyone who is here to have a vote. It's them. 'If they decide they want me, or they want X, Y, Z, it's up to them. And I know that whatever I've been doing is good for the members. I've been very straight with them. 'Let's wait for the General Assembly and let's see if they will get me out, then. They have the power to get me out. It's about the members. And when I see them smiling. Maybe, I don't know, maybe they're smiling, truly or not, but it's their decision.' Ben Sulayem initially clashed with F1 and the grid's 10 teams over the introduction of an 11th outfit. However, Cadillac – a division of American motoring giant General Motors and supported by TWG Motorsport – will be on the grid next season. And Ben Sulayem admitted talks are ongoing with a Chinese manufacturer about the possibility of a 12th F1 entry. He added: 'I still feel that we need more teams than more races. If there is a Chinese (bid) and I will speak on behalf of Formula One Management now. Think of the long term. If there is another team from China, they will approve it 100 per cent because it is good for business. 'Wouldn't it make more money with China coming in? I believe, yes. Do we have to fill up another team for the sake of filling up that 12th team. No, it will be the right team.'
Al Arabiya
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- Al Arabiya
Carlos Sainz Sr. Confirms He's Not Running To Lead Auto Racing Governing Body
Carlos Sainz Sr. has confirmed he won't run for the presidency of the FIA–the governing body for auto racing series like Formula 1. The 63-year-old Sainz, the father of F1 driver Carlos Sainz Jr., announced Wednesday that his decision followed months spent trying to understand in depth the situation at the FIA, as well as the demands and complexities of the job. 'After a thoughtful reflection, I have come to the conclusion that the present circumstances are not ideal to set the grounds for my candidacy,' the two-time World Rally champion wrote in a statement on Instagram. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem currently has no opposition to his re-election bid ahead of December's vote. Ben Sulayem, elected to the post in 2021, has faced criticism over his management. In April, Robert Reid resigned as FIA deputy president for sport in protest at how the organization is run. Ben Sulayem has also been at odds with F1 drivers over his crackdown on swearing.
Auto Car
23-06-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Car
Why Richard Burns is the WRC's unsung hero
If I were to ask everyone in the office to name their favourite rally driver, I'd put money on names like Röhrl, Kankkunen, Sainz, Mäkinen and McRae being thrown about. Indeed, these hotshoes all have the stats to prove their endless driving talent. But for me there's one that deserves to stand head and shoulders clear of the rest: Richard Burns. Here was a name that was, ahem, burned into my brain early on, when my parents bought me a pair of radio-controlled rally cars: a Subaru Impreza WRC and a Peugeot 206 WRC, each with the names of Burns and his co-driver Robert Reid affixed prominently to the rear window. I'd regularly get them out and attempt to drift them across the conservatory, laminate flooring being surprisingly good for perfecting the art. It was the blue and yellow Scooby that stood out to me, and watching Petter Solberg pilot his life-size version over huge crests and between trees on television set the foundations for a love of rallying from an early age. My true appreciation for Berkshire-born Burns came later, when I stumbled across his excellent autobiography, Driving Ambition, which tracks his rise to prominence from the Peugeot Challenge series, which helped launch the careers of many great drivers. My godfather used to compete in the Peugeot Challenge in his 1.6-litre 205 alongside Burns (who was in the big-boy 1.9-litre car) and my dad was part of the service crew. He once recounted a story of Burns from the Circuit des Ardennes rally back in 1991: not only did he win the event, but he was fastest on most of the stages and was easy to spot during the night because his brakes were glowing orange, such was his commitment. Burns would go on to become the youngest ever British Rally Champion and eventually a World Rally Champion in 2001 with Subaru – an incredible achievement, considering that he was behind the likes of Colin McRae and Tommi Mäkinen heading into the final round in Wales. Cool, calm and collected, Burns kept his Impreza on the road while McRae crashed out and Mäkinen retired from the event early on. As of today, Burns remains the only English driver to win the WRC title. You only need to watch on-board footage of Burns to gauge how talented and supremely fast he was at the helm of a rally car. His smooth driving style coupled with Reid's detailed pace notes allowed him to paint a clear picture of the stage ahead.
