Particle.news
Download on the App Store
27 ARTICLES
·
3d ago

Ben Sulayem Re-Elected FIA President in One-Candidate Vote

A French court will examine a rival’s challenge to the FIA’s eligibility rules in February, leaving the result subject to potential judicial review.

Image
Formula One F1 - Italian Grand Prix - Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza, Italy - September 7, 2025 FIA president Mohammed ben Sulayem before the race REUTERS/Jennifer Lorenzini/File Photo
Image
Image

Overview

  • Delegates in Tashkent re-elected Mohammed Ben Sulayem on December 12 to a second four-year term running through 2029.
  • He secured about 91.5% of ballots from member clubs despite facing no opponent, signaling a measure of dissent.
  • Rivals Laura Villars and Tim Mayer could not qualify under rules requiring vice-presidents from each FIA region, with the sole eligible South American, Fabiana Ecclestone, aligned to Ben Sulayem.
  • A Paris judge let the vote proceed on December 3 but set a merits hearing for February 16, 2026 that could review, challenge or annul the election.
  • The FIA defends the process as compliant and transparent and points to a financial turnaround under Ben Sulayem, from a €24.0m loss in 2021 to a €4.7m operating result in 2024 and a €4.4m forecast for 2025.