Mohammed Ben Sulayem has been re-elected as president of the FIA, the world motorsport governing body, and will serve a second four-year term until 2029. The 64-year-old Emirati, a former rally driver, first took office in December 2021, succeeding Jean Todt. His re-election took place unopposed at the FIA’s annual general assembly in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Ben Sulayem expressed his gratitude to FIA members: «Thank you to all our FIA Members for voting in remarkable numbers and placing your trust in me once again. We have overcome many obstacles but here today, together, we are stronger than ever. It is truly an honour to be FIA president and I am committed to continuing to deliver for the FIA, for motorsport, for mobility, and for our member clubs in every region around the world.»
He faced no challengers after potential candidates, including American former steward Tim Mayer and Swiss-French racing driver Laura Villars, were unable to meet the election requirement that each nominee must propose a vice-president from all six FIA global regions. Only one South American, Brazilian Fabiana Ecclestone, appeared on the official list. She is part of Ben Sulayem’s team and married to former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone.
Villars challenged the election rules in the French courts. A Paris court recently ruled that the FIA vote could proceed as scheduled.
Her legal team said, «The emergency-proceedings judge held that this dispute belongs before the trial court, and we will therefore continue this case against the FIA before the judges who hear matters on the merits,» with a hearing set for February 16.
The FIA confirmed that the election had been «conducted in line with the FIA’s statutes through a robust and transparent voting process, reflecting the democratic foundations of the federation and the collective voice of its global membership.»
