The ongoing saga surrounding FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s peculiar interactions with <a href="https://f1place.com/brown-playfully-calls-out-piastri-and-norris-over-pre-McLaren-options/”>Lando Norris reached a new chapter as McLaren CEO Zak Brown delivered a pointed jab at the governing body’s chief during the team’s end-of-season celebrations. The American executive’s playful yet unmistakable critique highlighted the growing discomfort within the paddock over Ben Sulayem’s boundary-pushing conduct with drivers, particularly the newly crowned world champion. Brown’s remarks, delivered with characteristic humour, underscored a tension that has simmered throughout the 2025 campaign as the FIA president’s attention-seeking behaviour has repeatedly drawn scrutiny from teams and fans alike.
A pattern of uncomfortable moments
Ben Sulayem’s conduct throughout the 2025 season has raised eyebrows on multiple occasions. The FIA president’s insistence on inserting himself into high-profile moments reached a crescendo in Miami, where he attempted to position himself prominently during a McLaren team photograph. His behaviour in Abu Dhabi proved even more striking, as cameras captured him embracing drivers immediately after the season finale, with particular attention directed toward Norris.
The cooldown room incident following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix sparked widespread discussion across social media platforms. Ben Sulayem approached the freshly minted champion from behind, repeatedly running his hands through Norris’s hair in a gesture more befitting a family member than the sport’s most senior official. An equally awkward embrace saw the president whisper “I told you so” to the British driver, raising questions about the appropriate boundaries for someone expected to maintain strict neutrality across all competitors.
The pattern continued at the FIA prize gala in Uzbekistan, where Ben Sulayem once again reached for Norris’s hair. Whether the repeat performance represented a deliberate reference to the Abu Dhabi moment or simply another lapse in judgement remained unclear, though the reaction from observers suggested little appetite for such familiarity regardless of intent.
McLaren’s CEO delivers pointed commentary
During his speech at McLaren’s celebration event, Brown wasted no time addressing the elephant in the room. The CEO adopted a lighthearted tone whilst delivering what amounted to a public rebuke of the FIA president’s paddock conduct. “Lando, you’ve been with us forever. Jesus, you’ve come a long way. You were a mess,” Brown began, before pivoting to the crux of his joke. “What I really want to do is mess up your hair right now.”
The reference landed immediately with those familiar with Ben Sulayem’s recent behaviour. Rather than executing the gesture himself, Brown challenged Oscar Piastri to demonstrate his courage by replicating the FIA president’s actions. “I’m going to dare Oscar and see how big his balls really are,” the American declared, framing the hair-ruffling as an act requiring unusual boldness.
Piastri rose to the challenge, moving forward to tousle his teammate’s hair amidst laughter from the assembled McLaren personnel. The moment served dual purposes: celebrating the camaraderie between the team’s drivers whilst simultaneously highlighting the absurdity of similar actions from someone in Ben Sulayem’s position. Brown’s willingness to call out the behaviour, even through humour, reflected a broader frustration within the paddock about the president’s penchant for seeking the spotlight.
Questions about presidential conduct and impartiality
Ben Sulayem’s recent re-election as FIA president has itself attracted controversy, with the voting process subject to scrutiny over procedural irregularities. The governing body’s regulations surrounding presidential elections have been described as opaque, raising concerns about accountability and transparency at the highest levels of motorsport administration. Against this backdrop, the president’s conspicuous displays of affection toward specific drivers have amplified concerns about impartiality.
The FIA president’s role demands strict neutrality across all teams and competitors. His repeated focus on Norris, coupled with the “I told you so” remark in Abu Dhabi, suggested a personal investment in the driver’s success that sits uncomfortably with his official responsibilities. Such behaviour risks undermining confidence in the governing body’s ability to adjudicate fairly, particularly in contentious situations involving the championship-winning driver or his team.
Brown’s public mockery, whilst delivered with a smile, represented a calculated message from one of the sport’s most influential team principals. The McLaren CEO has never shied from speaking his mind on governance issues, and his decision to address Ben Sulayem’s conduct in a public forum signalled that patience with such antics has worn thin. Other team principals have remained more circumspect in their public comments, yet private conversations within the paddock reportedly echo similar sentiments about the need for more professional boundaries.
What this means going forward
The incident underscores a fundamental tension between the FIA’s authority and its credibility within the Formula 1 community. As the sport continues its period of unprecedented commercial growth and global expansion, the conduct of its senior officials faces greater scrutiny than ever before. Ben Sulayem’s tenure has been marked by numerous controversies, from disputes over team compliance to questions about his public statements on various matters. The hair-ruffling episodes, whilst seemingly trivial in isolation, contribute to a perception that the president prioritises personal visibility over institutional dignity.
Brown’s willingness to mock the behaviour publicly may embolden other team principals to voice their concerns more openly. The 2026 season looms with significant technical regulation changes and ongoing discussions about the sport’s direction, making effective governance crucial. Whether the FIA president adjusts his approach in response to such criticism remains to be seen, though the attention his conduct has attracted suggests difficult conversations about leadership standards may prove unavoidable in the months ahead.
