FIA boss Mohammed Ben Sulayem on F1 China expansion, return of V8s and why Abu Dhabi and Qatar GPs are safe
Long before he took charge of world motorsport, Mohammed Ben Sulayem was the man to beat on the desert stages of the Middle East. The Emirati won 14 Middle East Rally titles, helped bring Formula One to Yas Marina Circuit in 2009, and became the first non-European to lead the FIA in 2021. In an exclusive interview with The National , Ben Sulayem confirmed that the Qatar and Abu Dhabi races will…
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the current president of the FIA, addressed various topics in an interview with The National, including Formula One's expansion into China, the return of V8 engines, and the safety of future races in the Middle East.
Regarding the 2027 Dakar Rally, Ben Sulayem stated that the event will remain in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, despite it being relocated from Saudi Arabia. He emphasized that the FIA's top priority is the safety and security of everyone involved in their championships, and they will only proceed with events after assessing safety conditions on an individual basis.
Ben Sulayem also discussed the potential return of V8 engines to Formula One, which he believes could make the cars approximately 80kg lighter and cut costs by at least half. He explained that this change could give drivers more access to the cars and improve the racing experience for both drivers and fans.
When asked about his motivation as he approaches 65 years old, Ben Sulayem expressed his pride in Abu Dhabi's success in hosting the Grand Prix. He highlighted the city's reputation as a unique and welcoming destination for motorsport, as well as its impressive sports infrastructure and appeal as a travel and business destination.
Written by urgent.news from The National UAE's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
