When I met FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem in a well-lit, large-windowed office overlooking Sepang International Circuit for our one-on-one (plus photographer) interview, he was in good spirits, brimming with energy and happy to tackle topical Formula 1 and motorsport issues. In recent months, Ben Sulayem outlined his vision for the sport, defending the governing body’s handling of Formula 1 regulations while calling for simpler, lighter cars, cheaper engines and a return to the sound of V8 power units.

Ben Sulayem insisted fairness remains the FIA’s priority, rejecting criticism of the controversial 2026 technical regulations and arguing that teams had supported the direction of electrification.

He also welcomed the prospect of Chinese manufacturers entering F1, including Geely’s reported interest in Alpine, while highlighting improved relations with Formula One Management and the financial health of the FIA.

Ben Sulayem also praised Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton, defended older drivers and discussed online abuse, artificial intelligence and the challenges facing motorsport’s governing body.

The FIA president closed by insisting that the 2026 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will happen, at Yas Marina, as scheduled despite continued tensions caused by the UAE-Israel-Iran war in the region.

Below is the transcript of the interview conducted a few hours before the start of thre Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia last Saturday.FIA President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem interview by Agnes Carlier

Agnes Carlier: What is your long-term vision for the FIA?

Mohammed Ben Sulayem: At the FIA, we have three priorities: stability, growth and repositioning the FIA, and making our members feel valued. They are very valuable. You take the members out, and there is no FIA. The FIA is not a commercial entity. It consists of people. You remove them, and there is nothing left. It is the FIA World Championship. You start from zero.

When can we expect changes to the Power Unit rules in futre?

MBS: If they don’t want it, we will have it in 2031. It will be a different approach. We are offering something important to the drivers, the teams, the business and the fans. You have to take care of the drivers. The drivers are key. The first enemy of a driver is weight and bulk. They need this. It is important to the drivers, to the teams and to the business. You need sound from these engines. You want a rich sound. You go to the drivers first. Then you go to the teams. The budgets are not sYou need a rich sound for the fans too.

Why did you support the Formula 1 regulation changes for 2027 and 2028?

MBS: Which changes? There are so many changes. Why are the technical regulations here? You have to go back and analyse the rules and the technical regulations. Was it the FIA that took away the MGU-H, which existed in 2025? When I came to the FIA in 2022, I inherited a lot of things and situations. I inherited the consultations on the power unit. They were working in one direction, which was electrification. It was already 16 months of work. I had to follow through on this. The majority took the decision. The main mission of the FIA is fairness. It was already 16 or 18 months in the making. The MGU-K required more batteries. It was not something we started when we took over. They explained that this was what they wanted.

What is the mission of the FIA?

MBS: Fairness. Let’s go back. The technical regulations were given to all the teams at the same time, without favouring any team. I asked some of the teams why they had not started. I asked them what had happened. They confessed that the teams had been asleep. The FIA has to come back, restore the balance and be fair. We are using it in a better, smarter way. They found a loophole. We are there to make sure there are no gaps. The FIA cannot be blamed. The teams wanted this. We are there to fix it. The drivers deserve better. They should not sit in the cockpit with so many gadgets and have to think about controlling the battery. They should do what they do best: drive. It will be fixed in the future.

Talking about the age of drivers…

MBS: Fernando Alonso is one of the greatest drivers. I said it very clearly in Madrid: I don’t think he should be leaving because he is defeated by his car or his engine, or because he has to. If he leaves, he should leave not because he has to, but because he wants to. That is another matter. He is still working, like Lewis Hamilton. These people are legends. The younger drivers are there too. Whatever we do, we are a mix between the past and the future. They are intelligent. They are in a different league. We should not consume their energy on something they should not have to do. They should enjoy themselves and drive.

What is your position on teams coming from China? Geely is reportedly close to acquiring the Alpine team…

MBS: There are a lot of manufacturers. I met the boss of Geely in China. It shows you that Formula 1 has appeal. At the time, there was space for 12 teams. Let’s not forget what happened. There was a lot of resistance. Don’t hide it. It was about money. It was a pot, not just a slice of money. But the pot would be bigger. It is not about adding. It is about having [context unclear]. If they come in and take over another team, I will be more than happy. It is very important for me to have another team. For me, it is very important to have the right teams on the grid. When I said there was space for a 12th team, [incomplete]. Acquiring another team would be quicker, like Audi did with Sauber. Maybe this is an idea. They were lethal and brutal towards me. It was a journey. I am happy. They were lethal.

Would you change the past?

MBS: No. Now the message is very clear: let’s work together. We have never had a better relationship with Formula 1 Management than we have now. What is going on today is good for the sport. Much better. There are options. Our rules are there. We would like a big team from China. This is the leverage. We cannot exclude Asia. It will add a lot. They have the population. It is going to add massively to Formula 1.mThe FIA is not new. The FIA has been pushed aside and has not been respected. I fixed the championships. I will challenge everyone. We are open. I challenge everyone when it comes to transparency. The FIA has to exist, and it has to be healthy.

What about the Concorde Agreement and the FIA’s role in motorsprt?

MBS: The media have no vote in the FIA. They cannot control the FIA. This is the way they sell [context unclear]. There is control. We started serious negotiations with FOM. Earlier, they had failed. They wanted us to sign the Concorde Agreement. I was not going to sign it without getting a better deal. Some people said I was not going to sign it and that the President would not be around. I am very proud of the WEC. Now we are working hand in hand with the established promoter [name unclear in original notes]. Sometimes [incomplete], but we got a better deal for the FIA. We are better now. The understanding is there. Whether it is with a brother or a partner, if a deal is not fair to both parties, it will not work. The FIA is now respected. This is the work ethic I want. The money goes back into the system and into growing motorsport.

What happens to the money?

MBS: People ask what we do with the money. It is none of their business. The FIA is not new. The FIA has been pushed aside and has not been respected. Now I am happy with the result. Four championships in 1 year. I fixed them. I will challenge anyone who says I did something for myself. Transparency is the word. Before I came, you could only get the FIA accounts years later. Now you can get them quarter by quarter. And if people are throwing stones, I have to say that the FIA exists and is healthy.In the beginning, things took time. We have to have healthy negotiations. For me, I identified the old promoter as the outgoing one. I am happy with Mr Stefano Domenicali. Alejandro Agag is always there. Now, with the WEC, we have one year to decide good things for the championship. We have 14 manufacturers. The machine is rolling. Trust is more important. Relaxing does not mean you stop looking.

Thoughts on online abuse directed at Lando Norris after Franco Colapinto crash?

MBS: That is Lando. He is strong. I wish he could influence other people. I like what Lando said. Others tell me, “My wife told me,” or “My girlfriend told me.” Not everybody is mentally strong. I don’t read it. I don’t read that nonsense. Social media is attractive. It is good. We are talking about a tool that is used to reach people, officials, drivers and journalists.  AI, AI. Everyone is getting excited. Bring me one person who is doing [somehting bad]. AI can trace them. Once the person is traced and exposed, it will be different. The people who are doing that are hiding behind the scenes.

Will your UAE home race, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix happen this year?

MBS: Of course, you we will go to Abu Dhabi. You are going to Abu Dhabi. I am going there. My children are there. I would not leave them or my family there if it were dangerous.