Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: One was killed, another injured in a raid by an Israeli drone on the city of Khiam in South Lebanon
London views possibility of setting fire to tanker in port of friendly country to Russia to damage port infrastructure, initiate an international probe: Moscow
One of London's scenarios involves setting up accident with 'undesirable' tanker in one of the bottlenecks of maritime communications: Russian foreign intelligence agency
London plans to organize major sabotage with tankers to declare transportation of Russian oil to international shipping: Russian foreign intelligence agency
UK intelligence agencies plan to use NATO allies to launch massive raid on 'Shadow Fleet': Russian foreign intelligence agency
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.

FIA president under fire over handling alleged sexism

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News Websites
  • 26 Apr 2023 16:30
3 Min Read

A string of instances deemed badly handled by the president of the F1's governing body led to widespread dissatisfaction with his leadership.

  • x
  • FIA president under fire over handling alleged racism
    FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem at Formula One F1 -Abu Dhabi Grand Pix- Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates November 19, 2022. (Reuters)

Mohammed ben Sulayem, the head of Formula One's governing body, the FIA, is under fire again following allegations of sexism inside his organization. The complaints were not taken seriously, according to The Guardian, and are the latest in a string of instances deemed badly handled by Ben Sulayem, leading to widespread dissatisfaction with his leadership in the F1 paddock.

According to The Daily Telegraph, Shaila-Ann Rao, the FIA's former interim secretary general for motorsport who abruptly left the organization last December, sent a letter to Ben Sulayem and the president of the FIA senate, Carmelo Sanz de Barros, detailing instances of sexist behavior at the FIA and complaining that the complaint was not properly investigated.

The existence of the complaint was confirmed by a top source inside the sport. The FIA, on the other hand, released a reply, indicating that it took the claims seriously and had followed protocols.

According to the statement, "With regards to the specific allegations surrounding Shaila-Ann Rao, due process was followed, with an amicable negotiation conducted by the president of the senate and, as such, no referrals were made to the ethics committee. As previously stated, both parties agreed she would leave her position in November 2022 and mutual privacy terms were agreed as is common business practice."

Related News

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

Post-colonial neoliberalism is reshaping Arab cities one by one

“With regards to the other allegations, there have been no complaints received against the president. Should the FIA ethics committee or compliance officer receive any complaint from a member of staff it will be dealt with in a comprehensive manner by our panel of independent elected ethics committee members which has been in place since 2012.”

'An open and running joke'

The row is the latest in a string of issues for Ben Sulayem, which has eroded public trust in the 61-year-old from the UAE. According to a source close to the situation, "he is, sadly, an open and running joke in the paddock."

Ben Sulayem had previously been accused of sexism after remarks from his old personal website from more than 20 years ago became public, in which he declared that he did "not like women who think they are smarter than men … for they are not, in truth”.

The FIA responded by noting that the remark did not reflect the president's current opinions, but Ben Sulayem did not issue an official statement or apologize.

Ben Sulayem's relationship with F1's owners has deteriorated, not least when he made public statements doubting the sport's financial viability, to which F1 reacted aggressively with a legal letter, warning him that he had interfered with their rights in an "unacceptable" manner. His early resistance to the rise in sprint races was problematic, as was the FIA's emphasis on police the letter of the law with respect to Lewis Hamilton wearing jewelry while racing. Both objectives were said to have been directly pushed by Ben Sulayem.

The FIA's investigation into the contentious decision at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that decided the championship that season was also dismissed as ineffective, and its decision to crack down on drivers expressing their views on social and political issues has been met with condemnation from both within and outside the sport.

  • United Arab Emirates
  • Formula 1
  • UAE
  • Emirates
  • Formula One
  • Abu Dhabi

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS