This article was written prior to the announcement that Tim Mayer has officially withdrawn from the FIA presidential election due to an election rule requiring seven regional vice-presidential nominees. With Fabiana Ecclestone, the only eligible South American representative, already supporting Mohammed Ben Sulayem, his continuation as FIA President for a second term is set to be announced. The analysis below reflects the context and conditions before this update.
As the December election nears, the current FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem stands unchallenged for another four-year term. Not for lack of opponents, but by design of the system itself. Behind the scenes, politics, influence, and internal regulations have ensured the result long before the votes are cast.
The FIA presidential elections are set to take place on December 12th during the General Assembly in Uzbekistan. On the outside, it’s a democratic process that could bring fresh leadership to the sport’s governing body. Yet, as it stands, Ben Sulayem is almost certain to be re-elected unopposed for his second term.
All potential challengers are set to fail to meet the FIA’s strict requirements. Perhaps not because they wouldn’t be familiar with them, but rather because the structure of the election itself guarantees only one eligible candidate.
A Race with One Competitor
To run for the role of the FIA President, candidates must assemble a complete team of 11 FIA officials from the list of eligible candidates for the World Motor Sport Council.
The catch? Each candidate must secure representatives from these specific regions, although South America only has one eligible name on the list:
- 1 candidate from the Middle East and North Africa (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, Sudan and Tunisia)
- 1 candidate from Africa (with the exception of Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, Sudan and Tunisia)
- 1 candidate from North America
- 1 candidate from South America
- 1 candidate from Asia-Pacific
- 2 candidates from Europe
Since the representatives can only support one candidate, it is mathematically impossible for more than one person to meet the requirements for the election.
The names of all supporting figures must be submitted by October 24th. The timeline is not impossible, although surely difficult. Especially for new challengers compared to Ben Sulayem, who spent the past two years visiting regional clubs to grant their support, long before anyone else declared their intent to run.
This requirement effectively locks in the current leadership, leaving little room for other independent candidates to gather enough official backing in time.
Ecclestone: One Name That Changes Everything
In this high-stakes political game, one name holds infinite power once again. It’s Fabiana Ecclestone, wife of the infamous Bernie Ecclestone, who once held the keys to the world of F1. As the only listed member from the region of South America, her vote determines which presidential candidate can even qualify for the race.
Ben Sulayem posted his list of supporting members to make up his team publicly on his Instagram account three weeks ago. Considering his list includes Ecclestone, and no name can appear in more than one team, it seems to be game over for other candidates.
Without her backing, no other candidate can meet the regional representation criteria, confirming Sulayem’s re-election months before voting even begins.
It’s a system that gives the illusion of democracy but functions more like a carefully managed hierarchy with little space for change.
A Secret Society
To outsiders, the FIA often feels like a secret society. Its internal operations are opaque, its decision-making process vague, and its public communication inconsistent.
The recurring controversies, like inconsistent penalties, sudden reversals of steward decisions, and even alleged political interference, only add to the growing distrust among fans and insiders alike. The FIA’s reputation has suffered from the lack of transparency and accountability, and this election reinforces that image.
It’s hard to speak of any reform when the very process of leadership selection appears predetermined.
New Female Voices Seeking Change
Despite the structural barriers, the 2025 election introduced new female candidates with visions for a more open and inclusive FIA. It’s a first for the organisation.
Laura Villars, a 28-year-old Swiss racing driver most recently competing in the Ligier European Series for Team Virage, was the first to announce her candidacy. Her platform focuses on increasing opportunities for women and young leaders in motorsport, as well as establishing a fund to help junior drivers overcome financial barriers. With her announcement, she became the first woman in history to announce her candidacy for FIA President.
Weeks later, another female voice joined. Virginie Philippot, a Belgian journalist, influencer, and former Miss Belgium now based in Africa, also announced her candidature. She brings a rare global perspective, advocating for more visibility for underrepresented regions, especially Africa. She would like to see a governing body that reflects the real world in its diversity.
Both women embody a modern and forward-thinking FIA, something other candidates cannot fully bring to the table. Yet under the current system, both of their candidatures cannot even reach the voting stage.
From Coworker to Rival
The last key figure standing as the opposition of the current FIA president is Tim Mayer, son of McLaren co-founder Teddy Mayer. After serving as FIA steward for over 15 years, Mayer was dismissed last year under controversial circumstances. As per his own words, he was notified via a text message which didn’t even include the reasoning behind his dismissal.
He later claimed that he got fired for being involved in an issue surrounding the US GP last year where fans broke out on the track. Despite standing his ground that his FIA presidency campaign is not a personal vendetta against Ben Sulayem, the incident raises serious concerns about the situation inside the organisation.
In July, Mayer launched his campaign titled FIA Forward, with a website outlining his commitment to mobility, road safety, and transparent governance. He also regularly shares articles exposing questionable governance practices within the FIA there, including the alleged interference at the Saudi Arabian GP.
Yet even Mayer’s campaign, with its detailed vision and being announced way back, still lists his required regional team as to be added. Without that team set up, he is destined to fail just like others.
Under Sulayem’s Control
Despite all the criticism he has received recently and the way he tries to concentrate the power solely for the role of the FIA President, not everything is so bad about Sulayem’s first term. Under his ruling, the FIA achieved a record of financial stability coming after a tough year of covid where it dropped.
To his credit, his presidency has also seen measurable steps toward inclusion within the organisation. Fabiana Ecclestone and Anna Nordkvist now both serve as FIA Vice-Presidents (and they are coincidentally both on Sulayem’s list of supporters). Burcu Çetinkaya is the first non-European FIA Women in Motorsport Commission Chairperson. Three women hold a position on the FIA Senate, including Fatma Samoura, a woman of colour, who has been appointed as an independent member. Rwanda hosted the first-ever FIA Annual General Assembly in Africa.
However, Ben Sulayem also pushed for new rules at the June General Assembly in Macau, introducing integrity checks to ensure presidential candidates are eligible. The vague phrasing surrounding those checks gives the president the power to disqualify rivals on subjective grounds. Under his reign, the control has tightened even further.
Missed Opportunities
Rumours earlier this year suggested high-profile figures like Carlos Sainz Sr. and Susie Wolff were considering entering the race. Wolff never confirmed she is aiming for the role. In fact, she denied those claims on a podcast called The Sport Agents, mentioning she has enough on her plate as it is and is firmly focused on F1 Academy.
Sainz Sr. originally wanted to join the run for presidency. He confirmed it in May, and his son, Carlos Sainz Jr. had to dismiss the concerns of possible conflict of interest during media day at Imola earlier this year. However, Sainz Sr. issued a statement in June confirming he would not run:
“This message is to publicly confirm that I have finally decided not to run for the presidency of the FIA in this year’s election.”
He added that he had worked hard to understand the current situation but found it not ideal. One of the reasons he decided to step back was that campaigning would interfere with his Dakar Rally preparations. Those currently hold the priority for the Spanish driver.
His decision reflects a broader sentiment that even respected figures with global networks find the FIA’s political structure too rigid to challenge. He promised to closely monitor the situation.
Democracy Without a Choice
There is no denying that Ben Sulayem’s presidency has delivered both progress and controversy. He diversified the organisation, gave women more visible roles, and expanded FIA’s global footprint. But he also supervises an electoral structure that prevents real opposition, weakening its democratic foundations.
If the FIA is to remain credible in the eyes of competitors, fans, and member clubs, it must move beyond the illusion of democracy. The organisation demands transparency and accountability from others; it’s time it applied those same principles to itself.
Until then, a race decided before the start is not a real competition.