Motorsports
Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s Second Term Secured
Mohammed Ben Sulayem has secured another term as president of the International Automobile Federation after being re-elected unopposed in a vote that remains under legal scrutiny.
The 64-year-old Emirati was the only candidate in the election held on Friday in Tashkent. His re-election came despite objections raised in court over the FIA’s electoral rules, which blocked two potential challengers from entering the race.
Swiss driver Laura Villars and former FIA steward Tim Mayer were both barred from running due to regulations that require candidates to nominate vice-presidents from all six FIA regions. These vice-presidents must come from a pre-approved list set by the Paris-based federation.
In South America, only one vice-presidential candidate was listed. That was Brazilian Fabiana Ecclestone, wife of former Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone. She publicly supported Ben Sulayem, which effectively prevented any alternative ticket from being formed.
Villars challenged the process in a Paris court last week. The court declined to suspend the election but ordered a full trial to examine the rules and procedures used by the FIA. Villars’ lawyer, Robin Binsard, said the case will move forward, with a first hearing scheduled for February 16, 2026.
He added that the election result could still be reviewed or annulled depending on the court’s findings. Ben Sulayem’s confirmation as president therefore remains subject to the outcome of the case.
Ben Sulayem, who first took office in 2021 after succeeding Jean Todt, thanked FIA members for their support following the vote.
“We have overcome many obstacles but today we are stronger than ever,” he said in a statement released by the FIA.
The federation defended the process, saying the election followed its statutes and reflected the collective voice of its global membership. The FIA oversees Formula One, the World Rally Championship, and other international motorsport series. It also promotes road safety through more than 240 member clubs across 146 countries.
Ben Sulayem’s presidency has been marked by controversy. Drivers criticized the FIA earlier this year over stricter penalties for swearing on team radios. The rules sparked backlash across the grid before fines were later reduced.
Seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton also questioned Ben Sulayem’s leadership after comments seen as using stereotypes when discussing driver behavior.
In April, FIA deputy president Robert Reid resigned, raising concerns over governance and transparency in his exit statement.
Despite the criticism, Ben Sulayem has repeatedly defended his record. He pointed to the federation’s financial turnaround, which saw a deficit of 24 million euros in 2021 turned into a reported profit of 4.7 million euros last year.
Looking ahead to his second term, Ben Sulayem said he stood by the decisions made during his first four years.
“Cleaning the house was not easy,” he said. “But it was worth it. If I could go back and change anything, I would not change a thing.”
Nasser Al-Attiyah sealed his sixth Dakar Rally car title in Yanbu on Saturday after a controlled final stage, while Argentina’s Luciano Benavides clinched the bike crown by two seconds in one of the closest finishes in recent memory.
Driving a Dacia, Al-Attiyah entered the final 105km stage with a comfortable buffer and avoided mistakes to finish ninth on the day, enough to secure overall victory by almost 10 minutes over Spain’s Nani Roma in a Ford. Roma’s teammate Mattias Ekstrom won the last stage and completed the overall car podium in third.
The win gave Al-Attiyah his sixth Dakar car title after previous victories in 2011, 2015, 2019, 2022, and 2023. The 55-year-old also brought his career Dakar stage win total to 50 during the rally. Competing with Belgian co-driver Fabian Lurquin, he took control of the standings early and stayed clear of late drama.
“We’ve worked very hard since last year. I might not be showing much emotion yet, but it’s there. We are so happy to win,” Al-Attiyah said at the finish.
For Romanian manufacturer Dacia, the victory came at only its second Dakar attempt and delivered its first overall win in the event.
Al-Attiyah now sits alone in second place on the all-time Dakar car winners list, moving ahead of Ari Vatanen and Carlos Sainz, who both have four titles. Stephane Peterhansel remains the benchmark with eight car wins.
“This is my sixth victory. I still need to break Peterhansel’s record,” Al-Attiyah said.
Last year’s champion Yazeed Al Rajhi retired earlier in the rally due to mechanical problems.
In the bike category, Benavides secured his first Dakar title after finishing second on the final stage aboard a KTM, edging Honda rider Ricky Brabec by two seconds overall. Brabec, a two-time Dakar winner, lost time near the finish after taking a wrong line.
“I’ve dreamed of this moment my whole life,” Benavides said after the result was confirmed.
Brabec had been on course for a third title before the navigation error in the closing kilometers. Benavides said the opportunity appeared late in the stage and he committed when it mattered.
“Even yesterday it seemed impossible, but I still felt it could happen,” he said. “I saw the opening and I went for it.”
Spain’s Edgar Canet won the final bike stage, while Tosha Schareina finished third on the day and third overall.
The victory added another chapter to the Benavides family history at Dakar, following earlier wins by Luciano’s older brother Kevin.
“Nine years in the Dakar and my first win,” Benavides said. “My brother and I are making history. It’s a dream come true.”
The Alpine Formula One Team has released Australian driver Jack Doohan ahead of the new Formula One season, ending a short and difficult chapter for the young racer.
Alpine said on Tuesday it reached a mutual agreement with Doohan to stop his driving duties, allowing him to explore other career options. The team still praised his commitment and professionalism during his four years with the organization.
Doohan, 22, stepped into an Alpine race seat at the end of 2024 after replacing Esteban Ocon. He was later named a full-time starter for the 2025 season. His run on the grid, however, was brief. He failed to finish three of his six races last season, with 14th place in Bahrain as his best result.
After retiring in Miami in May, Doohan was moved to a reserve role. That demotion effectively signaled the end of his time as a regular Alpine driver.
The son of motorcycle legend Mick Doohan was replaced in the cockpit by Argentine rookie Franco Colapinto, but results did not improve. Colapinto also failed to score a single point while driving what was widely regarded as the weakest car on the grid.
Alpine finished last in the constructors’ standings with 22 points. All of those were scored by French driver Pierre Gasly.
For the upcoming season, Alpine confirmed Gasly and Colapinto as its race drivers. The team will introduce a completely new car built around the latest Formula One regulations. It will also switch to Mercedes power after ending its engine supply from Renault.
Reigning Dakar Rally champion Yazeed Al-Rajhi has been forced to abandon the Dakar Rally, organisers confirmed on Wednesday.
Officials said Al-Rajhi withdrew at kilometre 234 of the stage after his car suffered technical problems. The setback ended his bid to defend the title he won in 2025.
The 44 year old Saudi had struggled since the opening days of the rally and started Wednesday outside the top 15. His retirement came during the first marathon stage, where crews are not allowed outside mechanical help. This meant repairs on his Toyota Hilux were not possible at the end of the 452 kilometre special stage.
Al-Rajhi has faced a difficult period since his breakthrough Dakar victory last year. In April, he was involved in a heavy crash during a race in Jordan that left him with multiple fractured vertebrae and sidelined him for several months.
With the defending champion out, the overall lead changed hands on Wednesday. South African driver Henk Lategan, also driving a Toyota, won the stage in 4 hours 47 minutes and 08 seconds.
Lategan finished more than seven minutes ahead of five time Dakar winner Nasser Al-Attiyah and now holds an overall advantage of nearly four minutes heading into the next stage.
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