The FIA said the presidential list requirements apply to past elections and rebuked former presidential candidate Tim Mayer for his criticism of the election process.
Mayer has announced that he is withdrawing from his bid to fight Mohamed Ben Sulayem in December, citing the requirement that each region have a vice-president in charge of sport as a hindrance to the challenger. Mayer’s criticism was that the list lacked candidates from South America (one) and Africa (two), leaving Ben Sulayem as the only choice.
Mayer called the process an “illusion of democracy” and questioned why there was a 27% drop in the number of candidates on the presidential shortlist compared to the last election, but the FIA insisted the rules had been known for months and candidates could have prepared sooner to have their supporters recommended to the World Motor Sport Council.
“The FIA presidential election is a structured, democratic process that ensures fairness and integrity at every stage,” an FIA spokesperson said.
“The requirements for the 2025 FIA elections, including the list of Presidents and the relevant deadlines and eligibility criteria for the World Council, are defined in the FIA Statutes and Bylaws and are published on the FIA website. Further information regarding these elections will also be published on a dedicated page on the FIA website from 13 June 2025 and communicated to all FIA members.”
“The requirements regarding the regional representation of the Vice-President for Sport and the requirement that a Vice-President be selected from the World Motor Sport Council to create the President’s List are not new. These criteria have been applied in previous elections.”
“As expected, there are certain steps that must be taken to prepare a candidacy for the presidential list and the World Congress. Since detailed information was published on June 13th, candidates must prepare their applications.”
As a result of Mayer’s withdrawal and the list of available presidential candidates, current FIA president Ben Sulayem will run unopposed.