FIA in trouble as presidential candidate takes governing body to court
FIA presidential candidate Laura Villars has filed a lawsuit against the governing body less than two months before the upcoming elections.
The lawsuit was filed to challenge the current regulations that effectively prevent her — as well as Tim Mayer, who recently announced his withdrawal — from mounting a genuine challenge to Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s current presidency.
As revealed by AFP, Villars has asked the Paris Court of First Instance to “order the suspension of the election of the FIA president until a decision on the merits of this dispute is pronounced.”
A first hearing has been scheduled for November 10 — almost exactly one month before the elections, which are set to take place in Uzbekistan on December 12, the day before the annual FIA Prize Giving.
Why Ben Sulayem could be re-elected unopposed as things stand
Under FIA current regulations, anyone running for the presidency must present a complete team of seven vice presidents, each representing a distinct world region: two from Europe, and one each from Asia-Pacific, the Middle East/North Africa, North America, South America, and Africa. If even one of these positions cannot be filled, the entire candidacy is automatically ruled invalid.
At the start of October 2025, the FIA published the official list of 29 members of the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC), from which presidential candidates are obliged to choose their vice-presidential nominees. That publication, however, immediately exposed a major hurdle for Ben Sulayem’s challengers.
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In the South American bloc, the only eligible candidate is Fabiana Ecclestone — Bernie Ecclestone’s wife and currently vice president under Ben Sulayem. Should she continue to side with the current president, no rival would be able to satisfy the requirement for South American representation, effectively eliminating any chance of a valid alternative ticket.
The African situation is equally restrictive, with both eligible representatives known to be close to Ben Sulayem, making their backing for an opposing campaign highly unlikely.
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