The FIA has officially announced that Mohammed ben Sulayem has been re-elected for a second term as the president of the governing body of motorsport. Being the sole candidate in the election, he secured 91.5 percent of the vote during the FIA General Assembly in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, receiving a standing ovation from the delegates present.
While the election process proceeded despite legal challenges, a hearing is scheduled in mid-February to review the validity of the election process. Three other candidates, Laura Villars, Tim Mayer, and Virginie Philippot, had expressed their intent to run against Ben Sulayem but failed to nominate a complete list of potential vice-presidents as required by FIA election rules.
The absence of viable alternatives led to criticism of the election process, with concerns raised about the lack of democracy in the selection. Legal actions initiated by Villars in France are set to be addressed in the upcoming hearing to potentially challenge or annul the election’s outcome.
Despite the ongoing legal dispute, the FIA has confirmed Ben Sulayem’s re-election through a majority vote during the General Assembly. He will serve another four-year term as the president overseeing various elite motorsport series, including the Formula 1 World Championship.
Ben Sulayem, who first assumed office in 2021 by defeating Graham Stoker, succeeded Jean Todt, the former Ferrari team principal, who led the organization for 12 years before opting not to seek a fourth term. Formula 1 enthusiasts can catch all the live action with Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle, which also includes access to around 100 TV channels and subscriptions to Netflix and Discovery+.