Outpoll | FIA President Ben Sulayem Meets With Horner and Brown

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FIA President Ben Sulayem Meets With Horner and Brown

FIA President Ben Sulayem Meets With Horner and Brown

2 days ago7 min read7 comments

In a move that has the Formula 1 paddock buzzing with speculation, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem took to social media to reveal a high-powered dinner meeting with two of the sport's most influential and often outspoken team principals: Christian Horner of Red Bull Racing and Zak Brown of McLaren. The post, simply captioned 'An evening in good company – thank you, Christian and Zak,' accompanied by a series of casual photos, was a classic piece of modern F1 theatre—a seemingly innocuous gesture that sends ripples through the sport's complex political ecosystem.For those who follow the F1 circus with the intensity of a football fanatic tracking their club's every transfer rumor, this was more than just a meal; it was a strategic summit, a potential realignment of power dynamics worthy of deep analysis. The context here is everything.Ben Sulayem, a figure who has navigated a turbulent presidency marked by controversies over financial regulations and sporting integrity, is currently positioned as the sole candidate for re-election, a fact that itself speaks volumes about the consolidation of power within the Federation. To have an audience with the man who effectively holds the keys to the kingdom is a significant move for any team boss.On one side of the table sat Christian Horner, the master strategist and enduring architect of the Red Bull dynasty, a figure whose career has been a masterclass in combining technical brilliance with cutthroat political maneuvering. His team, coming off a period of historic dominance, is at a critical juncture, facing internal power struggles, the impending departure of star designer Adrian Newey, and the monumental task of securing a competitive power unit for the 2026 regulations from their new Red Bull Powertrains division.Horner’s presence at this dinner is akin to a legendary club manager like Pep Guardiola seeking a quiet word with the league's head of referees; it’s a move calculated to protect his empire's interests at the highest level. Across from him was Zak Brown, the American commercial whiz who has revitalized McLaren, turning a historic name back into a consistent front-runner through aggressive sponsorship deals and a canny driver acquisition strategy.Brown is the sport’s most vocal campaigner for fiscal fairness and regulatory parity, never shy about publicly challenging what he perceives as overspending or technical ambiguities, often with Red Bull in his crosshairs. His dynamic with Horner is famously spiky, a rivalry as compelling as any on the track, making their convivial appearance together a fascinating spectacle.So, what was truly on the menu beyond the food? While the official line is a deafening silence, the strategic implications are ripe for dissection. The core agenda almost certainly revolved around the seismic shifts coming in 2026.The new power unit and chassis regulations represent a multi-billion-dollar reset for the entire grid, and the alignment—or lack thereof—between the FIA and the top teams will dictate the sport's direction for a decade. Were they discussing the budget cap, its enforcement, and potential loopholes? Was it about the political maneuvering required to ensure the 2026 rules genuinely deliver the promised 'nimble cars' and increased overtaking? Perhaps it was a more immediate concern, such as the ongoing Concorde Agreement negotiations, which will govern the commercial and regulatory landscape beyond 2025.Brown, representing a customer team, and Horner, leading a works outfit building its own engine, have divergent but equally critical stakes in these discussions. One plausible theory is that this was a show of unity, a deliberate signal to the FIA and other teams that despite their public disagreements, the leading constructors can present a united front on fundamental issues like the sport's commercial value and future technical roadmap.Alternatively, it could have been a more tactical discussion, with Horner seeking assurances on the homologation and integration of his new power unit, while Brown pressed for guarantees on equitable treatment and supply for customer teams like his. The historical precedent for such meetings is rich; the sport's history is littered with examples of clandestine paddock meetings that altered competitive landscapes.The absence of Toto Wolff from this particular gathering is another layer of intrigue, suggesting potential new alliances are being forged. The consequences of this dinner will unfold in the coming months, in the subtle language of technical directives, regulatory clarifications, and the tone of public statements from both McLaren and Red Bull. For now, it stands as a powerful reminder that in Formula 1, the most decisive overtakes often happen not on the asphalt of Silverstone or Monaco, but over a quiet dinner table, far from the roar of the engines.