Mohammed Ben Sulayem is now deep into his FIA presidency marketing campaign as he approaches the top of his first official time period as president of the Fédération Internationale de l’Vehicle. Elected in 2021, the Emirati motorsport determine took over from long-serving predecessor Jean Todt, the previous Ferrari staff principal, ushering in a brand new period of management on the sport’s governing physique. Nevertheless, his tenure has been marked by numerous controversial choices and ongoing debates inside the Components 1 neighborhood.
Since getting into the function, Ben Sulayem has launched a number of high-profile modifications, not all of which have been properly obtained. One notable instance was the enforcement of a swearing ban throughout official Components 1 media classes, a regulation that drew consideration when reigning World Champion Max Verstappen was penalised following a slip throughout a press convention on the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix. Verstappen was subsequently required to finish neighborhood service as a part of the FIA’s disciplinary protocol.
Along with cultural and procedural modifications, Ben Sulayem’s management has raised issues in regards to the stage of communication between the FIA and F1 drivers on key sporting issues. That perceived lack of dialogue has contributed to mounting scrutiny, and now Tim Mayer—a revered determine with a protracted background in motorsport governance—has stepped ahead as a possible challenger within the upcoming FIA presidential elections scheduled for December 2025.
Among the many most vital initiatives Ben Sulayem has overseen is the rollout of the 2026 Components 1 technical rules, a sweeping overhaul that features substantial modifications to each the chassis and energy unit frameworks. Whereas the FIA hopes the brand new guidelines will assist guarantee a extra sustainable and aggressive future for the game, outstanding figures reminiscent of Crimson Bull’s Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey have warned that the complexity of the rules might trigger widespread efficiency points throughout the grid. Many imagine all ten groups will face main challenges in adapting to the hybrid structure being mandated.
Ben Sulayem has by no means hesitated to voice daring proposals for Components 1’s future—and his newest thought might turn into a severe level of rivalry, notably for 2 of the game’s most iconic groups: Scuderia Ferrari and the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Components One Group.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s Newest Engine Proposal May Provoke Ferrari and Mercedes
Talking in a latest interview with The Race, Mohammed Ben Sulayem outlined a brand new method to standardisation in Components 1, which he framed as a matter of “widespread sense.” Previously, the FIA president has advocated for the return of extra conventional engine formulation, together with the reintroduction of V10 engines—although this concept was met with resistance from right this moment’s energy unit producers, who’re closely invested in hybrid know-how.
Discussing the state of the present engines, Ben Sulayem was candid about their limitations:“Groups and energy unit producers are starting to grasp that we can not proceed with this engine configuration indefinitely,” he mentioned. “The complexity of the MGU-H system has outlived its usefulness. It had its time, however did it ever really meet expectations? In three years, this engine might be 15 years outdated—it ought to be out of date by then.”
He added that whereas the MGU-H might be dropped within the 2026 rules, together with changes to compression ratios, gas sorts, and increase pressures, extra must be executed. His newest thought? A very new energy unit that’s lighter, more cost effective, and easier to handle. This, he argues, might solely be achieved with the implementation of standardised parts throughout groups—particularly a single gearbox provider, a standardised hybrid system, and most controversially, a single gas provider.
In response to Ben Sulayem, this transfer would require the cooperation of each Components One Administration (FOM) and all ten groups. “We suggest it and see in the event that they settle for it. They’ve to just accept—as a result of it’s widespread sense,” he said.
Why Ferrari and Mercedes May Strongly Oppose a Single Gasoline Provider
Whereas some areas of the FIA’s imaginative and prescient for 2026—such because the elimination of the MGU-H and simplified hybrid parts—have been met with cautious optimism, the thought of mandating a single gas provider throughout the grid is more likely to face stiff resistance from main producers, particularly Ferrari and Mercedes.
As The Race experiences, groups are reportedly extra receptive to the return of V8 engines than to sweeping standardisation round gas and hybrid methods. One of many major issues surrounding the single-supplier mannequin is that it will eradicate the power for groups to kind unique and extremely worthwhile partnerships with gas and lubricant firms.
Ferrari, for instance, has loved a long-standing and financially vital relationship with Shell, whereas Mercedes has partnered with Malaysian vitality large Petronas since their return to Components 1 in 2010. These collaborations usually are not nearly model visibility—additionally they contain years of gas optimisation, engine calibration, and co-developed know-how that has given every staff a efficiency and industrial edge.
With gas costs for racing anticipated to rise to just about £225 per litre underneath the 2026 guidelines, lowering provider selection would possibly reduce prices on paper—however might additionally dismantle key sponsorship offers. For Ferrari, the arrival of Lewis Hamilton in 2025 has already opened new industrial doorways, but shedding Shell as a technical and branding companion could be a significant blow. Likewise, Mercedes with out the Petronas identify and know-how would seem dramatically totally different—not solely visually, however in how they function and develop their engines.
Aston Martin, too, could be affected, as their partnership with Saudi vitality group Aramco performs a central function of their Components 1 mission.
As the talk over Components 1’s future intensifies, Ben Sulayem’s proposal—although positioned as a cost-saving measure rooted in logic—might spark deep resistance from groups with robust industrial and technical identities tied to their gas suppliers. Whether or not this “widespread sense” initiative beneficial properties traction will rely not solely on efficiency outcomes but additionally on whether or not it aligns with the game’s more and more industrial ecosystem.
Jul 18, 2025
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