FIA President Election 2025: Candidates and key dates

The 2025 FIA president election features Villars, Mayer and Mohammed Ben Sulayem. Here are the candidates’ programmes, who votes, and the timeline.

Key points
– Candidates: Villars, Mayer, Mohammed Ben Sulayem
– Election timeline and FIA General Assembly voting
– Programme impacts: governance, costs, sustainability
– Implications for F1, FE, WEC and grassroots motorsport

The FIA presidential election field is almost set: Laura Villars, Tim Mayer and Mohammed Ben Sulayem could be on the ballot when member clubs vote this December in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Updated on 20 September 2025 – Added candidate programme details

Three names. Three very different stories.

Villars makes history as the first woman to stand for the role. Mayer presents himself as the reformer with decades inside governance. Ben Sulayem, the sitting president, is seeking another term.

Update – 10 October 2025:
The FIA’s nomination window is closing fast, and Mohammed Ben Sulayem now looks set to stand unopposed in December’s election – though rivals still have until later this month to formalise their bids.
My latest piece unpacks how the field narrowed, what could still change, and why Fabiana Ecclestone’s role remains pivotal.
👉 Read the full October update here.

Laura Villars: Youth, Diversity and Governance Reform

At 28, Villars is the youngest of the three and the only active racer. Swiss-born, she rose through Formula 4 and Formula 3 before moving into endurance racing. Today she competes in the Ligier European Series with a JS P4 prototype.

Her candidacy is historic. No woman has ever stood for the FIA presidency.

Villars said the FIA “must once again be the federation of clubs and licence holders.” She wants governance that is “more democratic, more transparent, more responsible, and open to women and new generations.”

Her programme calls for:

• Giving clubs more influence through consultation.
• Greater transparency in finance and decision-making.
• An eco-performance label to reward sustainability projects.
• Expansion of Women in Motorsport and a new Young Leaders Academy.
• Making the FIA a leader in mobility and road safety worldwide.

Alongside racing, Villars holds a business degree and has founded two companies. She argues that entrepreneurial independence and innovation should carry into FIA governance.

Her candidacy, however, is not yet fully ratified. FIA rules require every contender to submit a complete list of proposed World Motor Sport Council members. Without that, a run cannot be validated. The deadline for confirmation is 19 September. Then there is the deadline to submit to be placed on the Presidential list, which is October 24th, also to be navigated.

Tim Mayer and FIA Forward

Tim Mayer announced his “FIA Forward” campaign during the British Grand Prix week at Silverstone. He argues that too much power has been centralised and that promised reforms from 2021 have not reached the clubs.

Mayer’s background includes senior roles in IndyCar, IMSA and the American Le Mans Series. He also spent 15 years as a Formula 1 steward before his term ended in 2024.

He says this campaign is not personal. Mayer insists his experience and focus on transparency, especially for regions often overlooked, make him a credible challenger.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem: Incumbency and Financial Recovery

Mohammed Ben Sulayem won the presidency in 2021, becoming the first non-European to lead the FIA. Now he is seeking a second term under the banner “FIA For Members.”

His case is built on results. The FIA’s finances were in deficit when he arrived. Four years later, they are back in profit. He also introduced a CEO-led model to modernise the organisation.

His manifesto includes:

• A Global Karting Plan to grow grassroots racing.
• Cost-cutting measures through local production of karts and cross cars.
• Stricter governance of world championships.
• Continued investment in sustainability.

Critics say he has centralised power and failed to solve stewarding inconsistency. His public clashes with Formula 1’s commercial rights holder have also split opinion. To some, he defended independence. To others, he appeared combative.

What’s at Stake

Three candidates. Three different visions.

Villars represents generational change, diversity and entrepreneurial energy. Mayer casts himself as the reformer, promising transparency and a stronger voice for clubs. Ben Sulayem leans on incumbency, financial recovery and structural reform.

The election itself will be held on 12 December in Tashkent. But the ballot is not yet locked. Each contender must have their candidacy validated through FIA procedure, with the deadline for confirmation set at 19 September.

However the final line-up looks, the vote in Uzbekistan will set the course of global motorsport governance for years to come.

FAQs – FIA President Election 2025

Who are the FIA president candidates for 2025?
The confirmed candidates are Laura Villars, Tim Mayer and Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

When is the FIA 2025 election and who votes?
The election takes place at the FIA General Assembly, with national sporting clubs casting the votes. Key dates are expected in December 2025 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

What could change under each programme?
Governance priorities, cost control and sustainability are the main themes across the candidate programmes. Each brings a different emphasis on F1, Formula E, WEC and grassroots development.