AUSTIN, Texas \u2014 Prospective FIA presidential candidate Tim Mayer is effectively out of the race, meaning that incumbent president Mohammed Ben Sulayem will run unopposed for leadership of Formula One\u2019s governing body.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mayer decried the FIA\u2019s election process on Friday, saying \u201cthe rules of this election mean that there will be no election\u201d and that his campaign will continue by helping educate member clubs about the process.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen elections are decided before ballots are cast, that\u2019s not democracy \u2014 that\u2019s theater,\u201d the American said. \u201cAnd when member clubs are left with no real choice, they become spectators, not participants.\u201d<\/p>\n
The FIA president is the organization\u2019s leader and public representative, responsible for overseeing all operations, including strategic direction, governance and ultimate approval of the sporting and technical regulations for championships like Formula One. Ben Sulayem has held the post since 2021.<\/p>\n
Although the election isn\u2019t until December 12, presidential candidates must submit a list of names to be included on the ballot. This list includes seven vice presidents, each representing a specific region: one for the Middle East and North Africa, one for the rest of Africa, one for North America, one for South America, one for Asia-Pacific, and two for Europe. According to Mayer, these vice presidents must also be involved in an international event on the FIA calendar.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat sounds inclusive \u2014 until you realize what happens when there are no independent candidates to choose from. No credible, alternative options,\u201d he continued. \u201cIn South America, only one person stood for the WMSC. In Africa, only two. All three are directly associated with the incumbent.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe result is simple: no one but the incumbent can run under this FIA system.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fabiana Ecclestone, from Brazil, is the only person listed from a South American country, and she has been the FIA Vice President for Sport \u2013 South America since December 2021, as part of Ben Sulayem\u2019s administration. Because no other candidates from the South American member clubs are on the list, Ben Sulayem can run effectively unopposed, because a WMSC candidate can\u2019t appear on multiple Presidential Lists.\u00a0<\/p>\n
To attract more candidates from South America, Mayer believes that eliminating the requirement for hosting an international motorsport event would effectively open it up to every country. He added, \u201cIf they want to put themselves up, let the members decide who the best representatives for the WMSC are. I would argue that there are countries that are doing great work on grassroots motorsports, that are doing great work on grassroots rallying, or doing great work on open wheel or cross car or whatever, but don\u2019t have an international motorsport event.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople that have huge experience in organizing events, but are restricted from being on the WMSC.\u201d<\/p>\n
Legal and ethical considerations\u00a0<\/p>\n
Laura Villars, another potential FIA presidential candidate, previously confirmed to The Athletic that \u201cformal exchanges are currently ongoing between my legal team and the FIA Administration, as the current electoral procedure raises legitimate concerns of conformity with the FIA statutes.\u201d Additionally, her team obtained \u201cindependent legal opinions\u201d that \u201calso confirm that several recent procedural changes are inconsistent with the statutes and must be corrected.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mayer and Villars have spoken, but Mayer is opting to go with the internal FIA processes, beginning with the Ethics Committee. He said Friday: \u201cWe strongly believe a series of ethics violations have been committed in this election process. And we have now submitted numerous ethics complaints. \u201c<\/p>\n
Mayer also said that if the Ethics Committee finds validity in their complaints, the matter is taken to the president of the FIA or the senate president for action.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe statutes don\u2019t provide for any other method or for any appeal,\u201d he said. \u201cWhere is the accountability?\u201d<\/p>\n