FIA confirms Mohammed Ben Sulayem as President for another term

The event, held as part of the formal FIA General Assembly meetings in Uzbekistan ahead of tonight’s awards ceremony where Lando Norris will be officially crowned the 2025 world champion, was essentially a formality for the Emirati, running unopposed.

Ben Sulayem, along with his presidential slate, will therefore lead the governing body for the 2025–2029 term, having first claimed the FIA’s top position in 2021.

In addition to the FIA president’s appointment, votes were also held for the members of the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) and the World Council for Automobile Mobility and Tourism (WCAMT).

The President said: "Thank you to all our FIA Members for voting in remarkable numbers and placing your trust in me once again. We have overcome many obstacles but here today, together, we are stronger than ever.

Back in early October 2025, Ben Sulayem’s path to re-election appeared all but unchallenged. Former stewards Tim Mayer and Laura Villars had initially signaled their intent to run, but the FIA’s election rules swiftly derailed any real chance they had, knocking them out of contention before the process even officially kicked off.

That month, the FIA published the official roster of 29 World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) members, the pool from which every presidential candidate must select their vice-presidential lineup. For any challenger, this list revealed an immediate and insurmountable obstacle.

FIA rules require each candidate to present seven vice presidents representing distinct regions: two from Europe, one from Asia-Pacific, one from the Middle East/North Africa, one from North America, one from South America, and one from Africa. Leaving any of these seats unfilled invalidates the candidacy entirely.

When it came to South America, only Fabiana Ecclestone — Bernie Ecclestone’s wife and a sitting vice president under Ben Sulayem — qualified. Already loyal to the incumbent, her presence made it impossible for any rival to meet the South American requirement, effectively clearing the way for Sulayem’s uncontested re-election.

Villars had taken legal action to have the FIA elections at least put on hold, seeking clarification over the regulatory loophole. The French courts have ruled that her case will be examined on its merits by the Paris judicial system.

The hearing has been scheduled for 16 February 2026, allowing the elections in Uzbekistan to proceed as planned.