FIA President Ben Sulayem believes he shares more in common with Max Verstappen than it might initially appear. According to Sulayem, the media, particularly the British press, has harshly criticized him, much like the Dutch champion. Sulayem has a message for the press in response to this.
Currently, the FIA and Verstappen are at odds, following the governing body’s decision to impose a community service penalty on the Dutchman for his use of coarse language. The three-time world champion protested his punishment during press conferences in Singapore by saying very little and providing brief responses.
Despite the ongoing tension between the FIA and Verstappen, President Sulayem sees similarities between himself and the multiple world champion. “I respect Max because I am a racer. I was a champion and I respect winners and champions,” Sulayem tells Motorsport.com. “I see that he was also (mistreated by the press), but let’s talk about me. If you look at the British media and what they’ve done to me. My God, they’ve condemned me.”
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Ben Sulayem, who hails from Dubai, doesn’t understand why the British press is after him. “They haven’t accused me of anything, but they keep going. And do I care? No. They have no power over me and the FIA,” explains the FIA president.
“With all due respect to the British media or other media, they have no voice,” continues Ben Sulayem. “We are an independent, democratic federation. It’s the member world that chose me. The power lies with the General Assembly, not with them.” Sulayem immediately calls on the media to “stop this nonsense” and return to the order of the day.
