MOHAMMED BEN SULAYEM SET TO BE NOMINATED FIA PRESIDENT AGAIN WITHOUT OPPOSITION
Mohammed Ben Sulayem is set to secure a second term as FIA President in December’s election, effectively running unopposed due to FIA rules, information by Thomas Maher and Mat Coch.
While four people, including Ben Sulayem, have announced their intention to run, FIA statutes require each presidential candidate to submit a full list of regional vice presidents. These must include representatives from the Middle East and North Africa, Africa, North America, South America, Asia-Pacific, and two from Europe.
The issue arises because only one person from South America, Fabiana Ecclestone, was nominated for the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC), whose members can serve as vice presidents. As every candidate’s list must include one person from each region, this means only Ben Sulayem, who already has Ecclestone on his list, can meet the requirements.
Ecclestone is said to back Ben Sulayem, leaving other potential candidates like Tim Mayer, Laura Villars, and Virginie Philippot unable to submit valid lists before the October 24 deadline. Without a South American nominee, their applications won’t be accepted, effectively confirming Ben Sulayem’s re-election.
Some rivals have voiced concerns about what they see as a flaw in the FIA’s democratic process, with talk of possible legal challenges.
An FIA spokesperson explained that candidates had over three months (June 13th to September 19th) to submit nominations for the WMSC, with all information available online and assistance provided as needed.
This situation exposes a weakness in FIA rules, which require full regional representation for any presidential bid. With only one eligible nominee from South America, the system has unintentionally created an uncontested election.
The process also pressures national clubs to publicly declare their support, which can make it harder for new challengers to gain backing. While the system is meant to encourage serious candidates, it can also discourage competition.
Any reform to prevent a repeat of this scenario would need a change to the FIA statutes, something that won’t happen before December’s election, but could be addressed ahead of the 2029 vote.
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