Mohammed Ben Sulayem will be reelected FIA president this December. Unopposed.
My first reaction when I heard this? Frustration, mostly because I have seen this before in the past.
The FIA is becoming more autocratic and less representative under his leadership. It reminds me of when Jean-Marie Balestre ran the organization back in the eighties. Same pattern: a leader who decides the FIA’s direction with little regard for stakeholders.
Decisions feel arbitrary and personnel keep leaving the organization. And now, no one can even run against him!
The Electoral Barrier That Keeps Everyone Out
Here’s how the system works. Presidential candidates must present complete slates of seven vice-presidential nominees representing specific regions. This all sounds reasonable until you realize what it means in practice.
There’s only one eligible South American candidate among 29 World Motor Sport Council members. Her name is Fabiana Ecclestone and she’s already committed to Ben Sulayem’s team.
Three challengers declared their intention to run: Tim Mayer, Laura Villars, and Virginie Philippot. None could meet the requirements.
This isn’t a bug in the system, it’s a feature.
The electoral requirements create a barrier designed to keep outsiders out. You need supporters across a wide range of national motorsport federations. You need to deliver on what these federations want from the FIA. Only well-connected insiders need apply.
The Mass Exodus Nobody’s Talking About
The people leaving the FIA tell you everything about what’s happening inside.
These aren’t low-level administrative shuffles. These are folks who enabled grand prix to take place and ensured fair competition. These are people like CEO Natalie Robyn, Technical Director Tim Goss, Sporting Director Steve Nielsen.
Then came the big one.
Robert Reid, Ben Sulayem’s own deputy president for sport, resigned in April over what he called a “breakdown of governance standards.” He wrote that decisions were being made behind closed doors. That he took the role “to serve the FIA’s members, not to serve power.”
When experienced personnel who ensure fair competition walk out the door, they’re telling you something. They have no confidence in the leadership. The culture is toxic.
They would rather leave than continue to serve the governing body. That’s an indictment of how it’s run.
The Power Imbalance Changing F1
Each of the FIA’s 149 member countries gets an equal vote. Small nations without major motorsport infrastructure have the same voting power as countries that host Formula 1 races.
This creates a fascinating power dynamic. Smaller federations can wield disproportionately more influence than larger ones.
You can see it playing out in where F1 hosts grand prix. The series is reducing its presence in Europe in favor of developing markets. Many of these don’t have much motorsports heritage or built-in fan bases.
Compare the British Grand Prix to the Bahrain Grand Prix, two great tracks that have produced memorable races over the years. One venue sees capacity crowds filled with passionate racing fans. The other has much smaller attendance with decidedly less enthusiastic spectators.
The electoral structure favoring smaller federations is influencing where F1 races.
What Happens When Legitimacy Crumbles
Austria’s national motoring club warned in June that “the FIA has entered a dark period” of backsliding. They’re not wrong.
When a governing body loses legitimacy, competitors, sponsors, and race hosts start questioning its impartiality. They wonder who has influence or control over FIA leadership.
Will Formula 1 be seen as a worthwhile series to compete in? Or will it become an elite, closed-off series governed by arbitrary diktats issued by unaccountable leaders?
Unfortunately the system is working as intended. But global motorsport will suffer because of it.
For Formula 1 to continue growing, it needs clear rules and structure everyone agrees on. When there’s consensus among stakeholders, the sport becomes stronger and more sustainable.
Right now, we’re heading in the opposite direction.
Before FIA member federations cast their votes this December, they should ask themselves one question: Is having unopposed elections in line with representative governance for a world sporting body?
The answer determines whether F1 remains a sport we can enjoy for decades to come.
