F1 News: Former CEO Jumps To FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem's Defence Over "Bad Reputation"

Bernie Ecclestone understands where Mohammed Ben Sulayem comes from.

Former Formula 1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone has defended the FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem's image, which is surrounded by controversy, citing that "his bad reputation comes from people not understanding him".

Ben Sulayem has recently been in the spotlight for contentious reasons. Last year, he faced criticism for accusations of sexism, and there were also swift but inconclusive investigations into Mercedes CEO Toto Wolff and F1 Academy Managing Director Susie Wolff.

Fast forward to this year, and one can't help but notice the exit of FIA personnel Tim Goss and Steve Nielsen, which suggests that something has been brewing within the governing body that is kept hidden from the outside world. 

Ecclestone, who worked with FIA officials and then-president Max Mosley during his tenure until 2017, acknowledged that he would approach the situation differently if he were the head of the governing body. However, he also defended Ben Sulayem, emphasizing that the individual has positive intentions for the sport.

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Speaking to German publication BILD, he stated:

“He does things differently than I would do them.

“But in my eyes, he is a straightforward man who tries to do the best for the sport. His bad reputation comes from people not understanding him.

“He’s just learning that the people who lead a team in this sport are different to what he thought they were.”

A report recently suggested that tensions were mounting between the FIA and Formula 1 owner Liberty Media, where Ben Sulayem clearly expressed that he is the "head of the house", and hence, he has a duty to fulfill. He told Motorsport Magazin:

“I’m just asking for clarity and fairness. I am not involved in the stock price or ticket sales. We just need fairness here, that’s my mission.

“We define clarity between ourselves and FOM, Liberty. That’s good. We need to understand who I represent. I represent the head of the house. We are not a service provider! No, we are not. I keep saying that and I believe it too.

“But friction is sometimes healthy to bring out the best. It’s like with your body: if you wake up in the morning with pain, then at least you know that something is wrong.

“We want the best for the sport. I’ll tell you one thing, I’ll say it very humbly and clearly: you won’t wake up tomorrow and the FIA ​​is no longer there. For others it is different.

“Liberty also has the right to sell the lease to another company. Tomorrow it could no longer be with them, but with someone else. Then I have to get along with them. That is the difference between us.

“I respect them, they are here for profit. That’s why they bought it. Why else would they buy the lease? They are smart people and I support them.

“But at the same time I was elected by the members of the FIA ​​to do the best for the FIA. I don’t get paid, I don’t complain about it, I already knew that.

“We are a non-profit association. What we get doesn’t go to shareholders or directors. Investments are being made again in equipment and training to develop better stewards and race directors.”

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