The French Courts have determined that the legal recourse presented by Villars will be examined on merits by the Paris justice system 'who alone have the authority to assess the legality of the electoral process.'

The date of the hearing has been set for 16 February 2026, with the FIA presidential election taking place in Uzbekiztan one week after the chequered flag waves in Abu Dhabi this weekend, on 12 December.  

Villars, along with fellow former FIA presidential hopefuls, former Steward Tim Mayer and Belgian journalist and former model Virginie Philippot, were forced to drop out of the race ahead of the elections due to a quirk in the rules that prevented them to form their respective presidential teams.

The vetting process of all FIA candidates requires them to deliver a presidential list with individuals from each region of the world, but with the sole representative for South America, former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone's wife, Fabiana already throwing in her full support behind incumbent President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, Villars, Mayer and Philippot were effectively ruled out as true aspirants.

The matter, understabdably very complex in nature, warranted a 19-page decision long explanation where Paris Judicial Court Judge Malik Chapuis declined to provide the “Interim Relief” sought out by Villars, allowing the FIA Presidential elections to proceed as scheduled on 12 December.

The Judge, however, did reject the governing body's claim that neither Villars nor her opponent turned supporter Tim Mayer at FIA Forward had enough cause to bring their case to be heard by the Courts, whilst at the same time nuancing that both former Presidential hopefuls' case were “not established with the degree of obviousness required in interim proceedings,” a ruling that was to be expected given the time sensitivity of the process and the "limited presentations of evidence."

Villars' attorney, Robin Binsard said: “The emergency-proceedings judge held that this dispute belongs before the trial court, and we will therefore continue this case against the FIA before the judges who hear matters on the merits. A first hearing is scheduled for 16 February 2026.

"Regardless of their political alignment, all Member Clubs deserve an open, fair and credible electoral process.FIA Forward will continue to advocate for integrity, transparency and genuine democratic practice within our governing structures as the case proceeds to a full hearing on the merits in February," he concluded.

The FIA faces three legal challenges questioning its integrity and transparency along with Villar's case: Susie Wolff has filed a defamation claim in French High Courts after a brief 2023 FIA inquiry into potential conflicts of interest, Felipe Massa's lawsuit against the FIA, Formula 1, and Bernie Ecclestone over the 2008 “Crashgate,” has won a hearing, albeit if on restricted grounds. Read more here.

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