FIA News: Ben Sulayem confirmed as Sole Presidential Candidate Amid Legal Showdown

The FIA has officially endorsed incumbent president Mohammed Ben Sulayem (pictured) as the only eligible contender for December’s leadership vote, following a rigorous vetting process outlined on its elections portal. However, a looming court decision in early December could upend the race, as rival Laura Villars mounts a high-stakes challenge over perceived barriers to entry.

Villars, a prominent motorsport executive, secured a key victory this week at the Judicial Court of Paris, where her grievances about the election’s restrictive rules advanced to a full hearing. She argues that the stringent requirements for assembling a presidential slate—demanding a slate of 11 total members, including regionally diverse vice-presidents drawn exclusively from pre-approved World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) candidates—violate the FIA’s own statutes by effectively sidelining opposition.

The Paris tribunal convened on Monday to deliberate, with the judge announcing a verdict slated for December 3. Potential ramifications include a temporary halt to the December 12 election in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, though the FIA is pressing ahead unabated for now. “The process remains on track, with all timelines transparent and adhered to,” the organization stated.

Ben Sulayem’s Unopposed Slate: The Only List to Clear the Bar

Per the FIA’s official 2025 elections page, nominations closed on October 24, and only one presidential list met the criteria: Ben Sulayem’s carefully curated team. This 11-member roster spans the required roles—president, senate president, two deputy presidents, and seven regionally mandated vice-presidents for sport—sourced solely from the FIA’s vetted WMSC pool.

Here’s the breakdown:

The formula is precise: One vice-president each from North America, South America, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and MENA, plus two from Europe—all WMSC-eligible. Yet the FIA’s published WMSC candidate roster was strikingly thin on diversity, listing just one South American option: Ecclestone, already aligned with Ben Sulayem. This bottleneck doomed rival bids from heavyweights like Tim Mayer, Villars, and Virginie Philipott, who couldn’t cobble together compliant teams.

Backlash and FIA’s Rebuttal

The lopsided field has ignited fury. Mayer lodged a formal complaint with the FIA Ethics Committee, decrying the process as undemocratic, while Villars escalated to the courts. Both contend the narrow WMSC approvals stifled competition, contravening principles of fair governance.

The FIA, however, stands firm on its protocols’ integrity. In a statement last month, a spokesperson emphasized: “These regional representation rules and WMSC sourcing mandates aren’t novel—they’ve governed prior elections, ensuring global balance and expertise. All details were public from the outset, fostering a fully democratic framework.”

As the December 3 ruling looms, the FIA’s future hangs in the balance. Will Ben Sulayem cruise to re-election, or will Villars’ Paris gambit force a reset? Motorsport’s governing body braces for what could be its most contentious ballot in years. For full nomination details, visit the [FIA’s 2025 Elections page](https://www.fia.com/2025-elections).