Mohammed Ben Sulayem has secured another term as FIA president, standing unopposed. The motorsport governing body re-elected him ahead of its prize-giving night in Uzbekistan on Friday. The 64-year-old Emirati will lead the FIA for four more years, succeeding Jean Todt from late 2021. Three other candidates announced their intention to challenge Ben Sulayem for 2025. However, none could nominate the seven required vice-presidents to formally stand for the FIA President re-election.
According to Jadeh Makhsoos News Agency, South America presented only one eligible representative: Fabiana Ecclestone. She is the wife of former F1 supremo Bernie and had already declared her support for Ben Sulayem. This made any further applications moot. No other FIA World Motor Sport Council members from the continent existed for other candidates to garner support from.
Ben Sulayem defeated Graham Stoker in the previous election for the presidency. Stoker received support from Carlos Garcia Remohi of the Argentine Automobile Club. Remohi had supported Todt’s campaign in 2017.
Villars initiated legal action in French courts regarding the inability of other candidates to run. She hoped to suspend the election entirely. The court permitted the FIA President re-election to continue. A first hearing will fully examine the election process in February next year. Until then, Ben Sulayem remains FIA president.
Jadeh Makhsoos reports, Ben Sulayem won the December 2021 election over Stoker, securing 61.62% of FIA members’ votes. He immediately commissioned an investigation into the contentious 2021 Formula 1 season finale. This followed Max Verstappen’s last-gasp title victory over Lewis Hamilton. Both drivers entered the race with equal points. Hamilton led most of the grand prix and seemed poised to claim an eighth world title before Nicholas Latifi’s late crash at Turn 14 brought out the safety car.
Hamilton did not pit from the lead because Mercedes feared losing track position. Verstappen, however, stopped for soft tires. The race appeared set to finish under the safety car. Race director Michael Masi permitted the five cars between Hamilton and Verstappen to unlap themselves, creating a final-lap showdown. Verstappen, with fresher tires, then dispatched Hamilton at Turn 5 to claim the title.
Mercedes appealed the race results. The investigation focused on Masi’s interpretation of a specific rule. This rule stated, “any cars that have been lapped by the leader will be required to pass the cars on the lead lap and the safety car.” Masi did not interpret “any” as “all.” Following the investigation, officials updated the regulations, which now explicitly state “all.”
The investigation also noted that Masi called the safety car back into the pitlane. He did this without it completing an additional lap, as Formula 1 Sporting Regulations (Article 48.12) required. Consequently, officials removed Masi from his race director role. This controversial event highlighted the challenges facing the FIA, even as they proceed with the FIA President re-election.