Ben Sulayem moves to scrap FIA Presidential term limits rule

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has put forward a proposal to repeal the article in the governing body's statutes that caps the number of terms a president may serve — a move that would, in effect, allow him to continue standing for election indefinitely.

The Rule in Question

Should the amendment pass, it would leave the duration of any future FIA presidency entirely at the discretion of the officeholder — with no statutory ceiling on tenure.

The FIA's Official Position

"A proposal has been put forward to establish a consistent approach to tenure across all FIA bodies, similar to what currently exists for the World Councils and the Senate," the statement read. "The proposal is subject to approval by the World Councils and by the General Assembly. FIA bodies retain full authority to democratically elect officeholders."

The proposed statutory changes — including the removal of the presidential term limit — will be put to a vote at the next General Assembly.

A Complicated Electoral Backdrop

The context surrounding Ben Sulayem's continued presidency is far from straightforward. In last year's elections, the Emirati was the only eligible candidate to stand. Three challengers — former FIA steward Tim Mayer, racing driver Laura Villars, and journalist Virginie Philippot — all fell short of the eligibility requirements, which demand that a presidential candidate nominate seven vice-presidents: two from Europe, and one from each of the FIA's remaining global regions. Crucially, Fabiana Ecclestone was the sole available representative from South America, and she had aligned herself with Ben Sulayem's campaign, effectively closing off a key nomination route for rival candidates.

The legitimacy of that process has since been legally challenged. Villars has taken the FIA to court over the electoral procedure.

A Question of Historical Precedent

The existence of term limits in the FIA's statutes is itself a relatively recent development. Presidential term restrictions were introduced during Jean Todt's tenure — a deliberate corrective measure in the wake of Max Mosley's 16-year presidency. Before Todt, Jean-Marie Balestre had served two four-year terms before standing down.

Removing those limits would mark a significant reversal of a governance reform that was put in place specifically to prevent the accumulation of unchecked institutional power at the top of world motorsport — a dimension that will not be lost on those within the sport who are already scrutinising Ben Sulayem's leadership closely. It is worth noting that, in parallel to these internal governance discussions, Ben Sulayem has also been vocal on the sport's technical future — most recently backing a return to V8 engines alongside Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, signalling an increasingly active and expansive approach to his role at the head of the FIA.