FIA president Ben Sulayem meets with Prince Albert II ahead of Monaco Grand Prix

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, left, and Prince Albert II of Monaco. (FIA)
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Updated 26 May 2023
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FIA president Ben Sulayem meets with Prince Albert II ahead of Monaco Grand Prix

  • Meeting focused on the federation’s sporting activities, sustainability issues and online abuse campaigns

MONACO: FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has held discussions with Prince Albert II of Monaco on the development of the sport, and to explore collaboration on various environmental and health campaigns.

The recent meeting, ahead of this weekend’s Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix, focused on sustainability efforts and the FIA’s Online Abuse campaign.

During the meeting, Ben Sulayem said he recognized Monaco and the Automobile Club de Monaco’s special place in the FIA, and thanked Prince Albert for his continued support of all FIA disciplines, including the level of Monegasque volunteers involved in motorsport.

On the events front, the FIA president highlighted the importance of preserving historic motorsports events on the organization’s calendar, including Formula 1, Formula E and the World Rally Championship, all of which take place in Monaco, and underlined a growing need for such events to expand to all continents.

“I was honored to meet with His Serene Highness Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco, for engaging discussions on a range of topics including the heritage and prestige of the Monaco Grand Prix. We also talked about the invaluable contribution of volunteers to motorsport and the FIA’s Online Abuse Campaign,” said Ben Sulayem.

The meeting also focused on Prince Albert’s “Peace and Sport” initiative, to tackle rising threats of online harassment and abuse. The FIA president said the FIA was seeking solutions to this problem in collaboration with key stakeholders, including other international sports federations, the EU, academic institutions, and national governments.


‘Winning mindset’: Yazeed Al-Rajhi ready to defend title at Dakar 2026

Updated 02 January 2026
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‘Winning mindset’: Yazeed Al-Rajhi ready to defend title at Dakar 2026

  • Race runs from Jan. 3-17, will start and conclude in Yanbu

YANBU: Saudi rally star Yazeed Al-Rajhi is gearing up to defend his Dakar Rally title as the 2026 edition of the race kicks off in Yanbu on Jan. 3.

Last year’s victory confirmed Al-Rajhi as the first Saudi driver to win the overall car category (Ultimate), the highest class in what is considered the world’s toughest rally.

Al-Rajhi said: “We are approaching Dakar 2026 with great determination and an even greater sense of responsibility after our achievement in 2025. Winning the title was a historic moment, but the real challenge now is defending it. The car is fully ready, the team is working as one, and our objective from the start is clear: to fight for victory and secure a strong opening to the W2RC season.”

He highlighted the complete readiness of co-driver Timo Gottschalk as the team looks to repeat last year’s success in their Overdrive Toyota Hilux.

Gottschalk said: “The preparation for this season has been intense and extremely precise. We focused on every aspect Dakar demands in terms of concentration and discipline. Our synergy is at its best, and we are ready to manage the rally stage by stage, intending to fight for victory from day one.”

The Dakar Rally 2026, set to run from Jan. 3-17, will cover 7,994 km, with 4,840 km of timed stages across Saudi Arabia’s diverse landscapes. It will consist of 13 competitive stages, in addition to a prologue stage, with a rest day in the capital city. The rally will start and conclude in Yanbu, featuring seven loop stages and two marathon stages, which significantly increase the level of difficulty and place greater physical and technical demands on crews and teams.

Al-Rajhi has also expressed his desire to compete for the title of the World Rally-Raid Championship W2RC. Since the championship’s launch in 2022, he has finished runner-up twice and third overall once, highlighting his consistency at the highest level. The Saudi star said that his clear objective this season is to claim the W2RC title, with Dakar serving as the opening round of the championship.

Al-Rajhi acknowledged that competition this year will be extremely intense, but added that the goal has been clear from the outset: to defend the Dakar title and move forward steadily toward winning the World Rally-Raid Championship.

“Early preparation and attention to the smallest technical and physical details give us strong confidence heading into the rally,” he added. “We know the competition will be tough, but we enter Dakar with a winning mindset, aiming to deliver a complete season that reflects the name of Saudi Arabia and matches our global ambitions.”

Al-Rajhi extended his sincere gratitude and appreciation to Jameel Motorsport, his official partner, for their unwavering support. He credited their backing as one of the key pillars behind his continued success and achievements in the Kingdom.