Lewis Hamilton visibly snubbed FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem after the Bahrain Grand Prix, brushing past him with only a brief pat on the side instead of accepting an embrace. The incident occurred as Hamilton exited his Ferrari and headed toward the weighbridge, where Ben Sulayem stood waiting with open arms.
The interaction – or lack thereof – came after Hamilton’s strong performance in the race, climbing from a P9 qualifying position to finish fifth, just behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
A Long-Standing Rift
Hamilton’s dismissive gesture comes as no surprise to fans familiar with his public disagreements with Ben Sulayem. The seven-time world champion has openly criticized the FIA president in the past, especially over the controversial investigation involving Susie Wolff, wife of Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff. That episode led to legal action and further soured relations.
When asked last season whether he supported Ben Sulayem, Hamilton bluntly replied, “He never has,” citing a “lack of accountability and transparency” in the sport’s governance.
Hamilton has also taken issue with Ben Sulayem’s comments likening foul-mouthed drivers to “rappers.” The Brit called the remark “stereotypical,” pointing out its racial undertones:
“Most rappers are Black, so I think it was the wrong choice of words. There’s a racial element there.”
Ongoing Tensions
The feud dates back to 2022, when the FIA cracked down on driver jewelry, forcing Hamilton to remove his nose stud and later fining him £42,000 for missing the end-of-season gala. Since then, tensions have remained high.
Hamilton’s latest public snub is just another chapter in his strained relationship with the FIA chief—one that shows no signs of thawing anytime soon.
