French President Congratulates Ben Sulayem On Re-Election As Fia President

• President Macron gives assurance of his determination to continue strengthening historic partnership between France and the FIA

Dubai, UAE, 30^th January, 2026: Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), has been officially congratulated on his re-election by French President Emmanuel Macron, who also gave an assurance of his determination to continue strengthening the historic partnership between France and the FIA.

In a letter to FIA President Ben Sulayem, President Macron said: “I would like to extend my warmest congratulations on your re-election as President of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), following the vote held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on 12 December.

“In this regard, and further to our recent meeting at the Élysée Palace alongside other representatives of the automotive world, please be assured of my determination to continue strengthening the historic partnership between France and the FIA.

“Wishing you every success in this new term of office, please accept, Mr President, the assurance of my highest regards.”

The meeting at the Élysée Palace in November highlighted shared priorities of the FIA and France across motorsport, road safety, mobility, and the protection of young people online.

With the FIA’s headquarters situated in Paris, France holds a unique place in the Federation’s heritage, and this was further highlighted during the meeting as the FIA confirmed the renewal of its commitment to France as one of its key centres of excellence.

Speaking at length, the leaders celebrated France’s pivotal role in global motorsport, from historic events such as the Paris–Rouen trial in 1894 to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which continues to attract thousands of spectators and generates significant impact, supporting over 1,000 full time jobs and contributing over €162m to the French economy. 

President Macron and President Ben Sulayem also discussed France’s ongoing representation in the FIA Formula 1 Championship, the French talent competing across the FIA World Championships, the contributions of French manufacturers and promoters in shaping international motorsport, and support for the facilitation of visas for global FIA delegates attending meetings in Paris.

The Presidents were joined by President Yann de Pontbriand of the Automobile Club de France (ACF), one of the FIA’s original members and the world’s first automobile club founded in 1895 – he is also President of the FIA Founding Members Clubs – and Pierre Gosselin, President of the Fédération Française du Sport Automobile (FFSA).

Discussions together covered the central role the clubs play alongside the FIA in promoting safe and responsible mobility and motorsport, alongside France’s historic contribution to the sectors.

The conversation also focused on road safety and sustainable mobility. President Ben Sulayem and President Macron exchanged views on initiatives to make mobility safer, more affordable, and more sustainable such as the newly launched FIA Driver Safety Index, a first of its kind global benchmark developed to measure and compare driver risk using cutting-edge AI technology. 

Protecting young athletes and promoting respect online was another key topic. The leaders discussed the FIA’s United Against Online Abuse (UAOA) campaign, which aligns closely with France’s policies on social media safety for children.