The FIA has officially announced that Mohammed ben Sulayem has been re-elected for a second term as the president of the international motorsport governing body. Ben Sulayem emerged as the only candidate eligible for the position due to election regulations that restricted other contenders from participating.
During the election held at the FIA General Assembly in Uzbekistan, Ben Sulayem garnered 91.5 percent of the votes and received a standing ovation from the assembly members. However, the legitimacy of the election process is under scrutiny, with a scheduled court hearing in mid-February to assess the election’s validity.
Three other candidates, Laura Villars, Tim Mayer, and Virginie Philippot, had expressed their intentions to challenge Ben Sulayem but failed to nominate a complete slate of potential vice-presidents as required by FIA election rules. This led to their disqualification from the ballot, prompting criticism from Mayer about the perceived lack of democracy in the process.
Villars escalated the matter by initiating legal action in France, questioning the election’s validity. Despite these challenges, the French Court allowed the election to proceed in December, resulting in Ben Sulayem’s re-election for another term as the FIA president.
Ben Sulayem, who first assumed office in 2021 after winning against Graham Stoker, succeeded Jean Todt and will continue to lead the organization overseeing various elite motorsport series including Formula 1. In related news, Sky has enhanced its TV and sports bundle to include popular streaming services and comprehensive coverage of Formula 1, along with other sports events.
