FIA Prepared For Geopolitical Disruptions -- President
By Siti Radziah Hamzah
SEPANG, Oct 4 (Bernama) -- The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) must be prepared to respond to unexpected disruptions -- including geopolitical instability -- through risk management and assessment, said its president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
He said major disruptions are not new to the world motorsport governing body, citing the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as wars and instability in some regions.
“I believe the FIA has to be ready for something like this. You cannot just expect the unexpected,” he told a media roundtable with selected Malaysian media here today.
The 65-year-old Emirati said the FIA has risk management and risk assessment mechanisms in place to deal with unexpected situations, which could also arise from natural causes.
Ben Sulayem was responding to a question on how the conflict in West Asia has changed the economics and operations of global motorsport, as well as concerns over its longer-term implications, including logistics, insurance costs and the viability of staging major championships in the region.
He said the governing body could not allow external circumstances to continually dictate the course of the sport.
“Are we ready for the unexpected? I hope so. There are things that happen naturally from time to time, but we cannot allow them to control us," he said.
Ben Sulayem pointed to the staging of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia as an example of how the wider motorsport community could work together in response to disruption.
“What happened here, you see, is a message being sent by motorsport — by Bahrain, Malaysia, the FIA, Formula One Management (FOM), the drivers and the whole motorsport family coming together.
“Sport is about making progress, and it cannot be influenced by whoever is trying to destabilise our region. I am, if you ask me, very proud of what is happening here,” he added.
The 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix was supposed to take place on April 10-12. However, following the disruption arising from the West Asia conflict, it was held at the Sepang International Circuit on Oct 2-4.
Ben Sulayem said the security and safety of people remained paramount as questions persist over the future of motorsport events in the Middle East, including Formula One races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
He said the FIA is proceeding based on facts, noting that the World Motor Sport Council's approval of the 2027 calendar had gone smoothly.
“Everybody voted for it. And everybody is happy for 2027, including all the rounds as where it is,” he said.
Asked to address rumours on whether Malaysia could be an alternative venue for Bahrain for the latter's pre-season testing in 2027 should the West Asia conflict persist, Ben Sulayem said the FIA remained optimistic to keep the calendar as it is for next year.
“Let's not consider rumours. Let's go to facts. Do we need to start thinking of Plan B and Plan C, where I don't see any issue?” he said, adding that issues in the region are being resolved, and that both the FIA and FOM are aligned in their approach.
Ben Sulayem said FIA-sanctioned events in the region, including the World Rally Championship and cross-country rallies, are also not being cancelled.
“People have the choice to come or not to come. But honestly, again, I would say, why would I stay at home or leave my children if it is dangerous? That's my answer, really,” he said.
-- BERNAMA