FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem showed no hesitation in unleashing the full potential of his $4 million Bugatti Bolide during a recent high-speed session at the Dubai Autodrome, underlining both his racing pedigree and his passion for the extreme edge of performance engineering.
Ben Sulayem, a former rally champion and head of the global motorsport governing body, is among only 40 owners worldwide of the Bolide, a limited-run track-only hypercar built by Bugatti. With its 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W16 engine producing a staggering 1,825 horsepower, the Bolide is one of the most powerful and advanced machines ever created for the track.
Sources close to the event confirmed the FIA chief spent the evening carving up corners at the Dubai circuit, burning through Michelin racing slicks that, under the immense 2,600 kg of downforce the car generates, are known to last fewer than 40 miles per set. Each replacement set costs around $8,000, but for Ben Sulayem, the focus appeared to be on performance, not price tags.
Weighing just 1,450 kg in dry form, the Bolide boasts a power-to-weight ratio of over 1,100 hp per metric ton—placing it in the upper echelon of track vehicles globally. Its specialized aerodynamic package and engineering have been designed solely for circuit use, with no compromises for road legality.
While many hypercar owners prefer to keep such rare machines under wraps, Ben Sulayem’s decision to put his Bolide through its paces reflects a hands-on leadership style rooted in driving experience and deep motorsport passion.
Elizabeth Puckett