Formula One boss Mohammed Ben Sulayem has defended historic sexist remarks on his personal website, where he allegedly said he “doesn’t like women who think they are smarter than men” and revealed he was subjected to a racist slur while campaigning to become one. FIA president.
In an interview with the PA news agency, the 62-year-old Emirati, who was elected to the top job in motorsport in December 2021, strongly denied allegations of misogyny and said he was the target of an “inhumane” smear campaign.
Ben Sulayem also compared Lewis Hamilton’s contentious title defeat in 2021 to England’s victory over West Germany in the 1966 World Cup final following Sir Geoff Hurst’s controversial ‘offside’ goal, while Michael Masi said Hamilton won the eighth world title He reiterated his belief that he was accused of breaking his record. title – can return to sports.
In January, Ben Sulayem was quoted as saying on an archived version of his old website that he “didn’t like women who think they are smarter than men, because they really aren’t.” At the time, the FIA said the comments, dating back to 2001, “do not reflect the president’s beliefs”.
But Ben Sulayem, who addressed the remarks personally for the first time, told PA: “What would I have said? Let’s assume it is (me). I’m telling you exactly what he said. She says: ‘I hate it when women think they’re smarter than us.’ But they hate it when men think they’re smarter than them.
“Did I mention we are smarter? No. Did I say they were less smart? No. For God’s sake, if this is all they feel about me, please be my guest, you could do worse than this.
“People can look back and see what was said, whether I said anything against women. I am the only president in the FIA’s 117th year to appoint a female CEO (Natalie Robyn).
“I created a commission for EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) and brought in a woman (consultant, Tanya Kutsenko).
“It would be disrespectful to women if you say we have to hire 30 percent (female staff). You bring them in based on merit and reliability. That’s why they’re there.
“Look at Bernie Ecclestone’s wife. (Fabiana Ecclestone, Vice President of Sport, South America). It is one of the most active. They said I brought him in because of Bernie’s support. But Bernie has no connection to the votes. He has no authority over them.”
Ben Sulayem took the unprecedented decision to walk away from the day-to-day running of F1 in February after falling out with the sport’s American owners, Liberty Media, over the formation of an 11th team and questioning the value of the sport.
A month later, his son Saif died in a car accident in Dubai. New allegations emerged in April after the Daily Telegraph reported that Shaila-Ann Rao, the FIA’s former interim general secretary for motorsport, had written a letter to the governing body accusing Ben Sulayem of sexist behaviour.
“When we opened a position as CEO, Shaila-Ann wanted to be CEO,” continues Ben Sulayem. “I failed to interfere. I said, ‘Shaila, you are fine, continue the process.’ “We had 150 applications and everyone went through the process.”
Ben Sulayem then reaches for his phone and shows a WhatsApp message claiming to be from Rao, thanking him for hosting him at the Italian Grand Prix earlier this season.
And he adds: “I don’t want to make any comments. But that’s from September onwards. Sexism please! Do they have anything else? Why don’t they come and confront me?”
Once again, in the United States, New York, and South America, one was treated as another instead of another.
with HH. Sheikh Khalid Bin Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and HH. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum pic.twitter.com/ogs0FtgkcQ
— Muhammad Ben Sulayem (@Ben_Sulayem) 26 November 2023
Ben Sulayem continues: “Along with the tragedy I experienced, the attack on me at the beginning of this year was inhumane. If I had done the things I am accused of, I would be very happy if you would sit next to me and challenge me. But don’t make things up and throw things at me, and then when I tell you to prove it, you run away and don’t come back. This is not the way.”
Asked if he is a target, the former rally driver, who is in the middle of his four-year term, replies: “Yes. Because I’m doing the right thing.
“Imagine if someone said to me during my campaign in Europe: ‘Don’t think we would ever accept our FIA president being an Arab Muslim named Mohammed.’
“I laughed because I knew how to beat him; by winning. But my Christian team was furious with him. I said, ‘No, please leave it, this is something I expect from them.’ But can we get back to work? And let’s work and develop the passion we love, motorsport?”
Ben Sulayem replaced Jean Todt five days after Hamilton was sensationally denied a record eighth world title at the 2021 season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Race referee Masi’s failure to apply the correct rules left Hamilton at the mercy of Max Verstappen. After claiming the title in the desert, the Dutchman quickly clinched two more titles with his all-conquering Red Bull. Hamilton hasn’t won a race since.
The subsequent FIA investigation blamed “human error” before Masi was sacked. But the governing body stopped short of issuing a public apology to Hamilton.
Ben Sulayem said, “I always apologize, but I cannot apologize for something that was done before me.” “Okay, I will apologize, but I will bring Michael Masi again. Do you think this is right?
“The poor man is the one who is attacked and abused. Michael Masi has been through hell. Hell! If I see that there is an opportunity that the FIA needs and Michael Masi is the right person, I will bring him.
“There were even people threatening to kill me because I had the power to change this (outcome). But I said to them: ‘With all due respect, was it true that England played against Germany in the 1966 World Cup? Did they change it? NO.’ Did they give it to Germany? No.”