FIA President Ben Sulayem Hits Back at Critics as Mercedes Dominates Under New F1 Rules
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has defended Formula 1’s latest regulations amid criticism from teams and drivers, arguing that much of the frustration is coming from competitors who have struggled to adapt to the new rules.
Speaking to Forbes ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, Ben Sulayem said the regulations were not introduced suddenly and that Formula 1 teams had been involved in discussions well before the changes were implemented.
“When I took over, it was 2022, [the new regulations] were signed in 2022, [it was] in August, when I signed it,” Ben Sulayem said. “But this didn’t come in eight months. It has been discussed for 18 months collectively with all of the teams.”
The FIA president pointed to the competitive picture as part of the reason behind the criticism. Mercedes had made a strong start to the season under the new regulations, while several other teams struggled to find the same level of performance.
“Some of them had an issue with the car, the power unit, and some had [an issue] with the chassis,” Ben Sulayem said. “But it’s amazing how only the people who are behind are complaining. Did you hear Mercedes or Ferrari complain? No, of course they won’t. It’s a cycle.”
Ben Sulayem argued that Formula 1’s competitive nature means teams will naturally become dissatisfied when rivals gain an advantage.
“It’s today you have someone who is so good, and then everybody wants to take his place,” he said. “And that’s the competitors being competitive. But [the criticism is] only from the people who maybe didn’t do it right.”
The FIA president also addressed concerns surrounding the regulations from drivers. He said the governing body had held discussions following the Australian Grand Prix and consulted with drivers about issues involving electrification and safety.
“We don’t take decisions just because we feel like it,” Ben Sulayem said. “We engage, we consult, we take all of the information, and then we see what’s the best for everyone, not the best single team.”
However, Lewis Hamilton has argued that drivers need a more formal role in discussions about Formula 1’s future.
“All the drivers, we do work together, we all meet, but the fact is, we don't have a seat at the table engaging with the FIA in Formula 1,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton added that greater collaboration could help prevent disagreements over new regulations.
“Being that we have no stakeholders, we don't have a seat at the table currently, which I think needs to change,” he said. “All I said to them when I was doing the early tests was that you guys should come and speak to us and collaborate with us.”
The disagreement highlights the challenge facing the FIA as Formula 1 adjusts to its latest technical era. While Ben Sulayem maintains that the regulations were developed through extensive consultation, some drivers and competitors believe they should have a stronger voice in how future changes are shaped.
Analysis: Ben Sulayem’s Ferrari and Mercedes Remark Reveals the Bigger F1 Battle
Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s latest response to Formula 1’s critics is about much more than Mercedes’ strong start to the season. Beneath the argument over regulations sits a much bigger question: who gets to decide what Formula 1 should look like in the future?
The FIA president has made his position clear. He believes the latest regulations were not rushed into existence and that teams had plenty of opportunity to participate in discussions before the rules were introduced. From his perspective, criticism from struggling teams can partly be explained by the competitive nature of Formula 1.
His comment that it is “amazing how only the people who are behind are complaining” is particularly revealing. It is a blunt argument, but there is logic behind it. Formula 1 is a sport where success can make a regulation look brilliant while failure can make exactly the same regulation look disastrous.
That is where Mercedes’ dominance becomes important.
When one team finds the perfect interpretation of a new technical package, rivals immediately face an uncomfortable reality. They can either accept that their competitors have done a better job or argue that the regulations themselves are creating an unfair advantage. Naturally, the second argument is tempting when championships and millions of dollars are at stake.
But Ben Sulayem’s comments also expose the danger of dismissing criticism too quickly.
Formula 1 is not simply about whether a team is winning or losing. Regulations affect the cars, drivers, engineers, manufacturers and, ultimately, the quality of racing that fans watch. If teams and drivers genuinely believe something can be improved, their concerns deserve consideration regardless of where they sit in the standings.
That makes Lewis Hamilton’s comments especially significant.
Hamilton’s complaint was not simply that the regulations were wrong. His bigger concern was that drivers do not currently have a formal “seat at the table” when major decisions are being discussed. That distinction matters.
Drivers are the people actually sitting inside these machines at enormous speeds. They experience changes in braking, power delivery, handling and safety in a way that cannot always be captured by simulations or technical meetings.
Ben Sulayem insists the FIA does consult drivers and teams. Hamilton, however, appears to be asking for something more permanent and structured rather than consultation only after problems emerge.
That could become one of the most important debates surrounding F1’s future.
The FIA does not need to surrender its authority, but stronger communication between the governing body, teams and drivers could reduce unnecessary friction. Instead of waiting for controversy to explode publicly, Formula 1 could create clearer channels for concerns to be raised before they become political battles.
Ultimately, Ben Sulayem’s message is simple: the regulations were discussed, teams had time to prepare, and competitors must accept that some teams will get things right before others.
The counterargument is equally powerful: being consulted is not necessarily the same as having a meaningful voice.
And that tension could become just as fascinating as the battle on the track.
Source: GPblog, reporting on Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s comments to Forbes ahead of the Miami Grand Prix.
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