Dubai: FIA President H.E. Mohammed Ben Sulayem held high-level meetings with Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar and Czech President Petr Pavel during the FIA Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix, reaffirming the FIA’s commitment to strengthening international cooperation in motorsport, mobility, and road safety.
The discussions took place at the Hungaroring as the circuit marked a major milestone, celebrating 40 years since it first hosted a round of the FIA Formula One World Championship. The anniversary provided an opportunity to reflect on the race’s long-standing contribution to global motorsport and Hungary’s position as one of Formula 1’s most established host nations.
During his meeting with Prime Minister Péter Magyar, President Ben Sulayem discussed the continued success of the Hungarian Grand Prix, which attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators each year and remains a major driver of sports tourism and economic activity. Both leaders highlighted the role of world-class sporting events in encouraging innovation, attracting international investment, and showcasing a country’s capabilities on the global stage.
The FIA President also praised Hungary’s strong collaboration in motorsport and mobility, recognising the important contributions of FIA Member Clubs, Magyar Nemzeti Autósport Szövetség and Magyar Mobilitási és Autóklub, in supporting the growth of motorsport and advancing mobility initiatives across the country.
Beyond motorsport, the discussions focused on the FIA’s wider mobility agenda, particularly efforts to improve road safety through research, data-driven policies, and collaboration with governments. President Ben Sulayem reaffirmed the FIA’s commitment to helping create safer, more affordable, and more accessible mobility for all road users while supporting Hungary’s Vision Zero strategy, which aims to eliminate road deaths and serious injuries by 2050.
On the sidelines of the Grand Prix, President Ben Sulayem also reunited with Czech President Petr Pavel, who attended the event while pursuing his passion for photography. The two leaders reflected on their shared enthusiasm for motorsport, following previous meetings in Prague and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, highlighting the growing connections between global motorsport and international leadership.
Speaking after the meetings, President Ben Sulayem emphasised the importance of continued collaboration with Hungary in expanding opportunities within motorsport.
“The Hungarian Grand Prix is an iconic race in the Championship’s annual calendar, and I look forward to continuing our collaboration and strengthening our partnership with Prime Minister Péter Magyar and the Government of Hungary to grow motorsport participation in the years ahead,” he said.
“Motorsport brings together innovation, competition and national pride, and together with Magyar Nemzeti Autósport Szövetség and President Zoltán Szujó, we are committed to increasing motorsport accessibility and continuing the delivery of world-class sporting events in Hungary and across the region.”
The meetings underline the FIA’s broader vision of working closely with governments, national sporting authorities, and mobility organisations to promote sustainable motorsport growth while advancing road safety and mobility initiatives worldwide. As the Hungarian Grand Prix celebrates four decades on the Formula 1 calendar, the event continues to demonstrate the enduring value of international motorsport in driving tourism, innovation, and economic development.
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