Local newspapers in Dubai reported this morning that the son of FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has tragically passed away following a traffic accident, announcing a mourning schedule as per Islamic traditions.
The FIA and the Ben Sulayem family has now both confirmed the passing of Saif Ben Sulayem and have requested that their privacy be respected at this traumatic time.
Saif Ben Sulayem was very close to his father, who is the current president of the FIA, sharing the passion for motorsport that led his father into his current role.
On Instagram, Saif would often show off photographs of himself with McLarens, Bugatti Veyrons and many other supercars as he travelled around the world living the motorsport life with Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
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Saif’s passion for cars was not just limited to sportscars, as he competed in the 2016-17 Formula 4 championship alongside some well-known F1 names.
The 2016-17 series featured McLaren rookie Oscar Piastri and Williams rookie Logan Sargeant, meaning that Saif had shared the racetrack with two current F1 superstars.
Despite the encouraging start to his racing career, Saif decided not to continue to develop his motorsport career after competing in the UAE Formula 4 championship, opting against competing on an international scale in favour of remaining in the Middle East.
The exact details of Saif Ben Sulayem’s accident are yet to be shared, as the privacy of the family is of the upmost importance at this time.
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Mohammed Ben Sulayem will understandably now take some time to mourn the passing of his son before returning to F1 matters, with the 61-year-old having been FIA president since the end of 2021.
The Emirati was given the difficult task of dealing with the fallout from the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which saw race director Michael Masi come under fire for his controversial decision making.
While there has certainly been valid criticism of Ben Sulayem’s time in charge of the FIA, F1’s governing body has certainly progressed forward under the 61-year-old’s rein.