The presence of women in sport and, in particular, in the pinnacle of motorsport is a debate that never ceases to create conversations in the paddock and among fans.
In this case, at the centre of the controversy is Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA since the end of 2021, who was accused of posting sexist comments on his old website in 2001. The President allegedly wrote that he did “not like women who think they are smarter than men, for they are not in truth” .
The FIA, siding with its president, was quick to point out how speculation does “not reflect the president’s beliefs”.
On his side, Ben Sulayem commented to the Press Association:
“What did I say, if I said it? Let’s assume it was [me]. I tell you exactly what it said. It says: ‘I hate when women think they are smarter than us’. But they hate when men think they are smarter than them.” “Did I say we are smarter? No. Did I say they are less smarter? No. For God’s sake, if that is the only thing they have against me, please be my guest, you can do worse than that.”
Not totally condemning the comment but rather widening the discourse, the President didn’t acknowledge blame, later defending himself by focusing on the changes made within the organisation: the decision to make the American Natalie Robyn CEO of the FIA, the creation of the equality, diversity and inclusion commission and the arrival of Tanya Kutsenko as its advisor.
“People can go back and see what has been said, and if I have said anything against women. In 117 years of the FIA, I am the only president who brought in a female CEO [Natalie Robyn]. I made the commission for EDI (equality, diversity and inclusion), and I brought a woman in [adviser, Tanya Kutsenko].
“There is disrespect to women if you say we have to have 30% [female staff]. You bring them in on merit and credibility. And that is why they are there. Look at Bernie Ecclestone’s wife, [Fabiana Ecclestone, vice president for sport in South America]. She is one of the most active. They said that I brought her in because of the support from Bernie. But Bernie doesn’t have any connection with any votes. He has no power over them.”
Ben Sulayem then commented on the news of possible sexism allegations by the former interim secretary general for motorsport, Shaila-Ann Rao, reported by the UK’s Daily Telegraph newspaper.
“When we opened a position as CEO, Shaila-Ann wanted to be the CEO. I could not get involved. I said, ‘Shaila, you are good, go through with the process’. We had 150 applications, and everybody went through that process.”
He then confirmed the good relations with the former secretary general, showing an exchange of messages between the two following the invitation extended by Mohammed Ben Sulayem to the Italian GP.
“I don’t want to do any comment. But that is from September. Sexism, please! Do they have anything else? Why don’t they come and confront me?”
“The attack on me earlier this year was inhuman, with the tragedy that I had [the death of his son in a car crash]. I would love that if I did these things that I was accused of, you sit with me, challenge me and confront me. But don’t fabricate and throw things at me, and then when I tell you to prove it, you run away and don’t come back. That is not the way.”
Photo Credit: Red Bull Content Pool
In the course of this conversation, Ben Sulayem spoke about the consequences of Michael Masi’s conduct during the season finale of 2021, when the battle between Verstappen and Hamilton was interrupted by Nicholas Latifi’s crash into the barriers at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The decision to only allow lapped cars between Verstappen and Hamilton to unlap themselves led to Max Verstappen’s victory and first championship in hugely controversial circumstances. Masi received online death threats in the weeks and months following that decision.
The Australian was sacked in early 2022.
As for the FIA president, he didn’t apologise for what happened as he wasn’t the boss at the time — and he cited England’s ‘ghost goal’ in the 1966 FIFA World Cup final as another event where the result didn’t change in spite of controversy.
Ben Sulayem also explained the threats he got, as well as not ruling out a return for Masi.
“I always apologise, but I cannot apologise for something which was done before my time. OK, I will do the apology, but I will bring Michael Masi again. Do you think that is right?
“The poor guy is a person who has been attacked and abused. Michael Masi went through hell. Hell! And if I see there is an opportunity that the FIA needs, and Michael Masi is the right person, I will bring him.
“I even had people threatening to kill me because I had the power to change it [the result]. But I said to them: ‘Sorry, the World Cup of 1966, England against Germany, was that correct? Did they change it? No.’ Did they give it to Germany? Nein.”
