Ben Sulayem states that the decision to remove the Russia GP was made by FOM.

      "The FIA is responsible, and I have had to endure all the criticism."

      15 September 2025 - 16:03

      FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has maintained that the governing body of Formula 1 was not the one that decided to cancel the Russian GP. In an interview with Sweden’s Expressen, the controversial leader stated that the 2022 cancellation following the onset of the Ukraine war was a commercial choice made by FOM, the rights holder owned by Liberty Media. "To clarify, it was FOM that made that decision," Ben Sulayem commented. "The FIA faced pressure to indicate and halt races in Russia, but I made it clear that I would not violate the rules for anyone."

      When asked if a return to Russia might be possible in the future, he replied, "There is a distinction between the commercial aspect of Formula 1 and the sport itself. We must adhere to the rules set by the Olympic Committee, which we respect. But let’s be optimistic. Do you believe the war will persist indefinitely? I hope not. Lives are at stake on both sides. I detest war; it's as straightforward as that."

      The Emirati, who is encountering electoral opposition for the FIA presidency, cautioned against transforming F1 into a mere "money machine." "No, it’s not solely about sport; it’s also entertainment and a business. But it cannot proceed if it becomes just a profit-making venture. That would strip the sport of its essence. That could signal the beginning of the end," he asserted.

      Ben Sulayem has frequently disagreed with the ten existing teams and the commercial division of F1, led by CEO Stefano Domenicali. Although Domenicali recently dismissed the possibility of a 12th team, Ben Sulayem expressed his willingness to engage in further disputes following the Andretti-Cadillac episode. "The FIA is accountable, and I've had to endure all the backlash. Am I prepared to face it again? Yes, if it’s for the right cause," he stated. "Do we need another team? No. We require the right team. It’s not about quantity but quality. Nevertheless, it could indeed make things very intriguing."

      He further cautioned against excessive politicization in selecting race hosts. "If we adopt this mindset every time we select a country, where we avoid places for one reason or another, perhaps we should just return to Sweden, where we could have everything," Ben Sulayem remarked with a smile. "We don’t intertwine religion and politics. For us, it’s about individuals and motorsport. However, we would never put our people in unsafe locations."

      Lastly, Ben Sulayem criticized the British media for executing "brutal" attacks against him. "Unfortunately, it's not always merely anonymous individuals; sometimes, it’s journalists seeking to increase their sales," he stated. "In my experience, I have never encountered anyone as ruthless as the British press. They're quite proud, claiming, 'We’re so influential that we managed to get our Prime Minister ousted.' Is that truly an achievement? A nation without a Prime Minister for an extended period is problematic. It’s about serving the best interests of the populace."