The FIA has officially announced that Mohammed ben Sulayem has been re-elected for a second term as the president of the motorsport’s governing body. Ben Sulayem emerged as the only candidate in the election due to constraints on other potential candidates, securing 91.5 percent of the vote during the General Assembly held in Uzbekistan. The election process faces potential scrutiny in the future as Laura Villars has sought legal action questioning its validity.
Challengers including Swiss racer Villars, American Tim Mayer, and Belgium’s Virginie Philippot had expressed interest in running against Ben Sulayem but failed to meet the requirements for candidacy. The election rules mandated each candidate to nominate vice-presidents from various regions, but the lack of eligible nominees hindered the challengers’ participation. Villars and Mayer have raised concerns about the fairness of the election process, prompting legal actions and a scheduled hearing in February to evaluate the situation.
Despite the ongoing controversy, the FIA has confirmed Ben Sulayem’s re-election through a majority vote at the General Assembly. Ben Sulayem, who previously assumed the presidency in 2021, will continue to lead the organization for another four-year term overseeing prestigious motorsport events like the Formula 1 World Championship. His victory in the recent election follows his initial win in 2021 against Graham Stoker, succeeding former Ferrari team principal Jean Todt in the role.
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