Ben Sulayem’s power play as F1’s future hangs on Concorde showdown in Bahrain

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem will attend his first F1 race this season - this week’s Bahrain Grand Prix - where he is expected to become engulfed in speculation about the Concorde Agreement.

Ben Sulayem has been absent from races while he observed the holy month of Ramadan during which F1’s team signed a commercial agreement with the sport’s rights holders, Liberty Media.

Known as the Concorde Agreement, it is a three-party deal between the sport’s teams, the rights holders and the governing body that forms the framework for the regulations, governance and prize money allocation. The agreement defines how the sport is run and forms the regulatory framework of grand prix racing while the other element outlines the commercial terms.

The current deal expires at the end of this year and the teams - including new entrant for 2026, Cadillac - have agreed on terms with Liberty Media, who made the announcement on the eve of the new season kicking off at the Australian GP.

A statement released from F1 said: "Formula 1 can confirm that all teams have signed the 2026 Concorde Commercial Agreement, which secures the long-term economic strength of the sport.

"Formula 1 has never been in a stronger position and all stakeholders have seen positive benefits and significant growth. We thank all the teams for their engagement during this process to reach the best outcome for the sport."

Paddock sources suspect the move had caught the FIA by surprise, with some predicting that Ben Sulayem had anticipated the teams to have dug their heels in search of a better financial deal. In response to F1's announcement, the FIA had insisted their their part of the deal was "nearing completion” however, they have yet to commit to the proposals.

It means that Ben Sulayem will come under fresh pressure to explain the governing body’s hold up in signing the agreement.

Ben Sulayem has made no secret of the fact he is seeking a greater financial share for the organisation. He has pointed to the cost of regulating F1 races, including increasing the calendar to 24 races. Ben Sulayem also wants to invest in marshal training and developing a body of stewards.

However, there is a fear that if he holds out for improved financial terms, it could cause a tense stand off with Liberty Media - and the teams - who are keen to get the agreement wrapped up.

The relationships between Ben Sulayem and F1 has come under the microscope after David Richards, the chairman of Motorsport UK, threatened to take legal action if the FIA did not address his concerns about its governance of motorsport. Richards, 72, wrote an open letter last month in which he said the FIA's actions under Ben Sulayem were in breach of its own statutes.

Richards added that there had been a “distinct failure” for Ben Suyalem to honour the pledges he made when he ran for election and has called for full transparency, saying that the final straw was when he was asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement for a recent council meeting that he called a “gagging order”.

The FIA has since responded, with a letter posted 9 April from the organisation's general manager Alberto Villarreal which offered a response, but no real solutions to Richard's concerns, rather as he put it "dismissing these material issues."

While F1 and Liberty Media have not been drawn into the row, Richards’ concerns had been duly noted and builds into the increasing scrutiny on Ben Sulayem’s reign as he starts his bid to win a second term as FIA president.