Ecclestone Defends FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem

Former Formula 1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone has strongly defended FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, insisting the Emirati is working to make the governing body fairer rather than serving his own interests.

Ben Sulayem was first elected FIA president in 2021 to succeed Jean Todt before securing a second four-year term in 2025. Although his tenure has attracted criticism, he continues to enjoy strong backing from the FIA's member clubs, which ultimately elect the federation's president.

"Well, I'm trying to think of anything he's done wrong, which is not an easy task. I think he's trying to get everything working fairly and a little bit up to date."

Baca JugaEcclestone Bela Presiden FIA Mohammed Ben Sulayem

"Unfortunately, like all these things, you can't be 1,000,000% right all the time. But I can't see anything that he's done at the moment that he shouldn't have done, and there are one or two things which I hope are going to be sorted in the future."

Ecclestone also backed Ben Sulayem's proposal to return Formula 1 to naturally aspirated three-litre V8 or V10 engines, describing the idea as the right direction for the championship.

"A three-litre engine. I don't care if it is a V8 or a V10 or a V12, certainly you all need to be happy, and I think it is the right thing to do."

The former F1 boss also praised Ben Sulayem for improving the FIA's financial position, arguing that he inherited a difficult organisation but has successfully restored its stability while supporting member clubs around the world.

"He's done a super job financially. He's getting the FIA in the position it should have been before. He doesn't take any money, he's not in there for himself financially, so he is there to do the best he can for the sport he is looking after."