Ben Sulayem's stance as Argentina steps up push for F1 return
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has thrown his weight behind efforts to get the Argentine Grand Prix back on the Formula 1 calendar following talks with the country's president.
Ben Sulayem met Javier Milei ahead of the start of the FIA's American Congress in Buenos Aires, with the pair discussing the return of world-championship competition to the South American country.
Argentinian interest in F1 has exploded since Franco Colapinto's arrival at the top tier of motorsport, and improvements being made to the Buenos Aires track that hosted 20 world championship grands prix on and off between 1953 and 1998 has always been viewed as a critical step in winning a race back.
Milei has a strong desire to secure both an F1 and World Rally Championship event for Argentina and used a speech at the FIA event to lay out his ambitions, saying the country had "all the conditions necessary" to host those championships again.
"We have the tradition. We have the drivers. And now we are once again developing the institutional seriousness that these categories demand before choosing a country," Milei (pictured below, left, with Ben Sulayem) said. "We have absolutely everything.
"It is time to accelerate at full speed in this direction, and I invite you to make this [FIA American] congress the first step towards that return."
Ben Sulayem backed Milei's ambition and said that Argentina ticks all the boxes for the FIA to allow it to host an F1 race.
"I am going to support the initiative for there to be a Formula 1 race in Argentina," Ben Sulayem told local news channel A24. "I will support the initiative to have an F1 race or the World Rally Championship here in Argentina.
"Does Argentina deserve to be part of the F1 calendar? The answer is yes. They have history, they have a track record; the first race was held here in 1953. The rally started in 1980; it's a big deal.
"There's a love for motorsport and the economic situation is good; Argentina is better now. So, we know it's feasible."
That reference to Argentina's economic outlook includes a significant decrease in the inflation figure, which stood at 209% in September 2024 according to the country's National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INDEC), in part due to austerity measures introduced by Milei's government.
The most recent inflation figure of 33.8%, from July this year, is the highest of the previous 12 months.
Key to Argentina winning a place back on the calendar will be securing a deal with F1's commercial rights holder Liberty Media.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has long said he is open to seeing the country secure a place on the calendar providing a venue and deal can be sorted - and funding will be critical.
Speaking over the summer break, Domenicali said that "discussions" were ongoing in South America, as he suggested the continent was one of those primed to secure a new race.
Ben Sulayem acknowledged, however, that with F1 already capped at 24 races, finding a slot for Argentina would require a current race to fall off in addition to "support from the government to make it happen".
"Now, beyond the emotional aspect, there is also the rational side when it comes to the F1 calendar," Ben Sulayem added. "Does Argentina deserve it? It does, but there is a process to go through. There is a business plan and there are a limited number of slots.
"If Argentina comes in, someone else has to leave."
