Mohammed Ben Sulayem officially re-elected as head of the FIA

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who has held the position since the end of 2021, is preparing to begin his second four-year term. Fueled by the candidacies of several opponents, including racing driver Laura Villars and former sporting commissioner Tim Mayer, the election was ultimately rendered impossible due to a rule embedded in the electoral process. Consequently, and unsurprisingly, the incumbent president will continue in his role.

“Thank you to all FIA members for their remarkable number of votes and for renewing their confidence in me, commented the re-elected president on the sidelines of the end-of-year event organized by the governing body. We have overcome many obstacles, but today, together, we are stronger than ever. It is a true honor to be President of the FIA, and I am committed to continuing to work for the FIA, motorsport, mobility, and our member clubs in all regions of the world.

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Disagreeing with the pilots of F1 On subjects as wide-ranging as profanity spoken over the radio, the wearing of jewelry in the cockpit, or certain rules related to driving and on-track behavior, the FIA, through Mohammed Ben Sulayem, has consistently defended its record. The FIA's financial recovery, decisions made in the interest of the spectacle and safety… In connection with these numerous decisions made over four years, Ben Sulayem's popularity has steadily declined.

An election in question

Beyond the mere fact of his re-election, the method employed has generated considerable controversy. As a reminder, while opposition candidacies multiplied, reaching three before the start of the actual contest, none of them were able to be completed. Indeed, among the rules established by the FIA ​​during Mohammed Ben Sulayem's first term, one stipulated that a candidacy must be accompanied by a list of official endorsements from each continent. In this instance, in the South American zone, only one potential vice-president had come forward. By offering her support to the incumbent president, Fabiana Ecclestone (Bernie Ecclestone's wife) effectively invalidated any other form of candidacy.

Although Laura Villars indicated to the Paris court that a hearing should be held by February 2026, Mohammed Ben Sulayem's re-election was not prevented. Now, the focus shifts to 2029 to see what new measures he might take, given his divisive stance regarding practices deemed anti-democratic and restricting the freedom of FIA members by his opponents.