FIA president accuses rival of being 'disconnected' after 'terror' gibe

Mohammed Ben Sulayem has accused his rival in the FIA presidential race of being "disconnected" following claims that his reign is one of "terror".

Tim Mayer, who served as an F1 steward for 15 years before he was dismissed by Ben Sulayem in November last year, announced earlier this month he intended to stand against the Emirati.

American Mayer was punchy in his address, suggesting that under Ben Sulayem, his leadership was an "illusion" in numerous areas, including "transparency" and "integrity", that there was a "corrosive concentration of power" resulting in "a reign of terror every time they [his staff] walk into the office".

In response, speaking to a small group of select media, including RacingNews365, Ben Sulayem said he was unaware of Mayer's remarks on the day until highlighted to him the day after.

"Someone said to me that I have Teflon skin," said Ben Sulayem. "Actually, no. I just don't read. I'm sorry, I don't believe that I have the time, so it doesn't affect me because I don't know about it."

Asked to respond directly to Mayer's "reign of terror" accusation, Ben Sulayem added: "I feel for people who say this. They are disconnected from the FIA.

"He worked as a steward, but that doesn't mean you are also an insider of the FIA. A steward is not staff.

"The FIA has a different way of working now. The FIA works for the members and to promote sport. They don't work as before, just for the promoter.

"So if we want to grow motorsport, we have to go to the members and listen to them and see what they want. They are the ones who made the FIA. They are the ones who are the biggest and strongest body that we have.

"If I go and defend myself…I have other things to do. I am really busy. I am not going to fall into this way of campaigning, that I'm [instilling] terror, and I have to answer someone.

"He is free to say whatever he wants. We say in our culture, in Arabic, a tongue has no bones.

"In a campaign, you can say anything, and then it's up to them [the members]. For me, I'm not going to defend something after the first time I hear about it.

"Anyone can go and check with them [his staff], and if they say, it's up to them to say."

Ben Sulayem "busy"

A suggestion, that Mayer dismissed, was that he was only serving as a candidate out of revenge following his sacking last year, which he claimed at the time was via text message from one of Ben Sulayem's assistants.

At last year's United States Grand Prix, Mayer was working in an alternate role as a sporting organiser of the event. He oversaw a right of review process on behalf of the Circuit of the Americas after it had been fined €500,000 for a track invasion by fans.

Mayer had attempted to rephrase the statement on COTA's punishment to remove suggestions of negligence. He was axed soon after, claiming that Ben Sulayem had said the right of review was "a personal attack".

"What was done last year was purely between him and the system of the FIA," said Ben Sulayem. "I do not get involved in these matters.

"For me, if there is anything between him and the people who took care of that matter, it is down to them, and if he has anything, he can raise it to the International Court of Appeal. I don't look into these small things.

“The FIA is bigger than this for me, bigger than anyone.”

 As to whether he saw Mayer as a credible candidate, he offered little acknowledgement.

"I don't know. As I said to you, I am busy," he said, then referring to topics such as the World Rally Championship, World Rally Cross and the World Endurance Championship.

"I can't be consumed by the campaign, and one thing is very clear, it is the members who vote. They will decide if they want me or they want X, Y or Z. I wish him all the best, and if he is a better person, the members will vote for him."