Motor Sports

FIA president Ben Sulayem’s son dies in road accident

by
Teresa Mwangi
March 9, 2023

Mohammed Ben Sulayem with his son Saif Muhammad bin Salim. Photo/Grand Prix 247

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has lost his son Saif Muhammad bin Salim
He was involved in a car crash on Tuesday
Doctors could not save him

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has lost his son Saif Muhammad bin Salim through a motor accident.

Media outlets across the Middle East reported Salim’s unfortunate demise.

The president’s son participated in UAE’s Formula 4 as a driver. He did so for two seasons, participating in eight races in 2016 and 2017.

He came in at position 14 in the 2016 championship. Eighth on the starting grid and seventh in the race were his best finishes.

Reports have it that he was injured in a car accident in Dubai on Tuesday. He was rushed to the hospital but efforts to save his life were futile.

According to Al Khaleej, Salim’s body will be burnt at the Dubai cemetery on Thursday after prayers.

Mohamed Ben Sulayem took over FIA leadership from Frenchman Jean Todt as FIA president. He campaigned on the premise that he is a former rally driver going back to the 1990s.

Saif Muhammad bin Salim, the son of FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. Photo/The Mirror

The FIA president said that he will not issue a statement on this and asked that he be allowed to mourn his son’s death privately.

Saif Muhammad bin Salim competed against Oscar Piastri and Logan Sargeant in 2017 in UAE Formula 4. Piastri and Sargeant are Formula One rookie drivers in the 2023 season.

Salim’s death comes after his father took a step back from the daily running of Formula 1 as the 2023 season starts.

He is not participating any more in his capacity to make junior-level decisions. The FIA’s single-seat director Nikolas Tombazis will now oversee the management of such operations

When Ben Sulayem became the FIA’s president in December 2021, he made a number of significant changes to the organisation. He introduced a CEO into the corporation as part of these improvements.

In January 2023, the FIA announced plans to reorganise its senior F1 structure. As a result, Tombazis took on a more significant position, and Steve Nielsen was appointed sporting director after leaving F1.

Ben Sulayem will continue to participate in high-level decision-making and concentrate on strategic issues, but Tombazis will be the main point of contact for teams in the future.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem. Photo/Sky Sports

FIA, in a statement, said that Ben Sulayem, in his manifesto outlined a cohesive plan to create a governance framework that included the appointment of a CEO. His/her job would be working on an integrated and streamlined operation.

The FIA president intended to create an open democracy, growth and transparency within F1.

“The President’s manifesto clearly set out this plan before he was elected. It pledged ‘the appointment of an FIA CEO to provide an integrated and aligned operation,’ as well as to ‘introduce a revised governance framework’ under ‘a leadership team focused on transparency, democracy, and growth,” Motorsport reports.

Related Topics(FIA)Featured FIA president Mohammed ben Sulayem Motor Sports Motorsport Saif Muhammad bin Salim

Teresa Mwangi

Teresa is a journalist with years of experience in creating web content. She is a wanderlust at heart, but an outgoing sports writer with focus on tennis, athletics, football, motorsports and NBA.

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FIA president Ben Sulayem’s son dies in road accident

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More in Motor Sports

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