FIA President Ben Sulayem highlights new safety boost with Hankook joining as Global Partner

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem with Jongho Park, President and COO of Hankook Tire Europe. (Supplied)
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Updated 27 January 2026
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FIA President Ben Sulayem highlights new safety boost with Hankook joining as Global Partner

  • New role sees one of the world’s leading tire makers join global platform for sustainable innovations in motorsport and mobility

DUBAI: FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has welcomed Hankook, one of the world’s leading tire makers, as the FIA’s newest Global Partner in the organization’s drive to boost safety in motorsport and mobility.

Hankook has officially joined the FIA’s Global Partner Programme after more than three years as an associate of the global governing body for motorsport and the federation for mobility organizations worldwide.

Hankook will be an Official Partner of the annual FIA Awards as well as Official Partner of the FIA Sustainable Innovation Series, a global event platform, run in close cooperation with FIA World Championships.

These include the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, FIA Formula One World Championship, FIA World Endurance Championship and FIA World Rally Championship from 2026 through 2028.

Ben Sulayem said: “Sustainability and technological innovation are at the heart of our missions at the FIA, so I am delighted to welcome Hankook as a new partner.

“This new partnership with Hankook reflects the global growth of our FIA Global Partner Programme, and through collaboration it will strengthen our work to make motor sport and mobility safer.”

The FIA Sustainable Innovation Series convenes industry leaders to focus on “track to road” opportunities, translating innovation developed in motorsport into wider automotive and mobility applications.

As the exclusive technical partner and tire supplier of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship and the FIA World Rally Championships, Hankook supports the FIA’s ambition to use motorsport as a platform for progress and responsible innovation.

These championships provide a live testing environment for new materials, performance standards and safety solutions, with learnings that can be transferred from competition to everyday mobility.

Jongho Park, president and COO, Hankook Tire Europe, said: “The FIA and Hankook share the belief that technological innovation can only be effective on a sustained basis if it combines safety, fairness and responsibility.

“As Global Partner of the FIA, we want to use our expertise in technology and sustainable tire development to drive the mobility of the future, in motorsport and beyond.”

Craig Edmondson, chief commercial officer of the FIA, said: “Through our expanding Global Partner Programme, the FIA is working alongside leading international organizations that share our commitment to driving innovation, sustainability, and safety across both motorsport and mobility

“We are pleased to welcome Hankook into the FIA Global Partner Programme. Together, we will continue to accelerate progress and shape a more sustainable, future‑focused mobility ecosystem.”


Abu Dhabi Grand Prix organizers claim top F1 award

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Abu Dhabi Grand Prix organizers claim top F1 award

  • Ethara’s delivery of the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix stood out on the F1 calendar with record attendance and an ambitious entertainment program
  • Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025 hosted a dramatic three-way F1 Drivers’ World Championship showdown with Lando Norris claiming his first drivers’ title

ABU DHABI: Ethara, the promoter of the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, was named Promoter of the Year at the annual F1 Promoter Awards in London on Wednesday, honored for staging the best event of the 2025 season.

The Promoter of the Year award is voted for by Formula One management and is given to the promoter that produced the best all-round event in 2025 and embodied the F1’s mission to deliver the world’s greatest live entertainment spectacle.

Saif Rashid Al-Noaimi, CEO of Ethara, said: “We are proud to be recognized as Promoter of the Year in such a competitive field of promoters. This award is a testament to the strength of the Ethara team who are delivering our vision to become a regional powerhouse in live entertainment. We will continue raising the bar and pioneering unforgettable experiences for fans from around the world.” 

Recognizing Ethara’s award, Stefano Domenicali, president and CEO of Formula 1, said that 2025 “was another incredible year from start to finish for Formula 1,” adding that “our 24 promoters worked tirelessly to deliver the ultimate race weekend experience for fans.”

Domenicali said that as the sport enters its next generation in 2026, “we have a responsibility to continue breaking barriers and setting a high standard for others to follow.”

In 2025, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix hosted the dramatic three-way F1 Drivers’ World Championship showdown with Lando Norris claiming his first drivers’ title.

The event broke attendance records with 339,000 fans across four days, including 203,000 spectators at Yas Marina Circuit, alongside 136,000 attendees across Emirates NBD after-race concerts and the Yasalam after-parties featuring eight headline acts.

Expanded access brought fans closer to the action with two public pitlane walks, new FAB Track Walks, and a podium party that invited fans to celebrate on the track. 

The Promoter of the Year award is the latest in a series of accolades for the event, following the 2024 Best Event Spectacle award that celebrated the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for delivering outstanding off-track entertainment.

Since its debut in 2009, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has established itself as the region’s biggest entertainment weekend, combining elite sport with large-scale entertainment, drawing thousands of international visitors each year and showcasing the emirate to millions of viewers worldwide.

The 18th edition of the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will take place from Dec. 3-6, 2026, bringing the 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship season to a close.