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The 60-year-old Emirati replaced Frenchman Jean Todt at the helm
after winning an election with 61.62% of the vote.
Ben Sulayem told reporters he would devote all the time needed
to Formula One, whose season ended in uproar in Abu Dhabi last
Sunday after a change to the safety car procedure led to Red
Bull's Max Verstappen taking the title on the last lap.
FIA race director Michael Masi has been at the centre of the
controversy nL1N2T111T, with Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff
saying the Australian had 'robbed' Hamilton of a record eighth
championship.
The governing body has agreed to clarify rules and review the
decision-making process.
Hamilton, the sport's most successful driver of all time and
badly affected by the outcome after leading until seven corners
from the end, did not attend Thursday night's gala awards
ceremony-- a requirement for the championship's top three.
"If there is any breach, there is no forgiveness on this," said
Ben Sulayem, while also recognising that rules could always be
improved and saying he wanted to make a fresh start.
"We have to improve in every aspect," he said.
"We will look into the rules and make sure that any situation
like this that occurs in the future we will have an instant
solution for it," he added
Asked about the FIA's confidence in Masi, he said he would "look
into every single matter that can improve the FIA or there is an
issue about it" but needed to fully inform himself first.
WORLD ORGANISATION
In a significant break with the past, Ben Sulayem is the first
non-European elected FIA president.
"This is the centre of Europe but the FIA is for all members and
a world organisation," he said.
"(Some people said) they will never accept anyone from outside
Europe. I heard it and didn't take it very seriously. I was not
upset about it at all.
"Actually, the same people then called me and said 'we don't
mind'. I remember one person said to me ... 'America had a Black
president and the Vatican had a non-European Pope, we don't mind
someone from your part of the world with the name of Mohammed."
Ben Sulayem said diversity and governance were high on his
agenda, as well as increasing motorsport participation
significantly in the developing world.
Brazilian Fabiana Ecclestone, the wife of former Formula One
supremo Bernie, will be a vice-president for sport in South
America.
"The choice was made on merit," he said. "She had been involved
in mobility in Brazil, in Formula One, and she has been on two
of the (FIA) commissions so her experience is there."
Robert Reid, who was co-driver to Britain's late world rally
champion Richard Burns, will take the role of deputy president
for sport.
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin in London, editing by Jason Neely and
Ken Ferris)
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