Tim Mayer has called on the French authorities to investigate the FIA - Photo: Race Pictures

Mayer sounds alarm on FIA, asks French government to step in

17:24, 17 Oct

Updated: 17:47, 17 Oct

bySamson Ero

Tim Mayer has urged the French authorities to investigate the FIA following his decision to withdraw from the race for the organisation's presidency.

“The French authorities should look into that failure in governance.”

- Tim Mayer

The 59-year-old, who spoke to GPblog, announced he was stepping down from his candidacy for the FIA presidential race. Mayer, however, detailed the need for the French government to take a closer look at the workings and failures of the motorsport body.

“The FIA is a French-led federation, and under French law, there is an expectation that you should follow your own rules. Article 1.3 of the FIA statutes specifically states that it should be a democratic organisation."

“We've strayed from that. The starting point for me would be for the French authorities to examine that failure in governance, that failure in democracy that is enshrined in the FIA statutes.”

Tim Mayer FIA Forward - Photo: Race Pictures

Mayer further criticised current practices within the FIA, describing them as far from democratic. The American motorsport chief labelled it as ‘theatre.’

“When elections are decided before ballots are even cast, that's not democracy. That's theatre. When member clubs are left with no real choice, they become spectators, not participants.”

Further supporting his points, the former Formula 1 race steward referenced a recent study:

“This is not just my view. Just this week – and you have the sheets in your hands – the Utrecht School of Governance, an institution of global repute in sports integrity, released a study on the FIA using what they call the Sports Governance Observer Benchmark, or SGO.”

Mayer: FIA approach threatens institutional stability

Mayer further warned the FIA that this is how institutions fail. The 59-year-old explained how key players within the motorsport scene have continued to voice their dissent with the current leadership of the sport.

“Many of the largest clubs already voice concerns, and major investors in motorsport who demand strong governance measures are openly critical.”

“Revenues will flow out of the FIA and out of motorsport if investors cannot trust leadership to manage their large-scale financial commitments. The FIA's credibility is not a given; it must be earned through transparency, accountability, and integrity.”

Tim Mayer during the British Grand Prix - Photo: Race Pictures

According to current FIA statutes, a presidential candidate must provide a list of individuals who make up the presidential ticket ahead of the election. This list must include representatives from every continent and region represented in the FIA.

The South American region, currently represented solely by Fabiana Ecclestone, has seen the Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone’s wife pledge her allegiance to current President Mohamed Ben Sulayem.

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With no other candidate available in the region, it means that Mayer and the two other candidates – Laura Villars and Virginie Philippot – will not be able to meet the requirement for their respective presidential lists ahead of the October 24 deadline.

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