FIA Confirms Ben Sulayem as Only Eligible Presidential Candidate
Mohammed Ben Sulayem is the sole eligible candidate for the upcoming FIA presidential election, effectively ensuring his re-election. Challengers were unable to form a complete slate due to a specific rule requiring a South American Vice President, a spot already filled by Fabiana Ecclestone on Ben Sulayem's team. This uncontested race has led to a legal challenge by one of the thwarted candidates, raising questions about the fairness of the electoral process.
The upcoming FIA presidential election appears to be a foregone conclusion, as the governing body has officially confirmed Mohammed Ben Sulayem as the sole eligible candidate. This effectively ensures his re-election, following a unique set of circumstances that prevented any challengers from submitting a complete application.
Why it matters:
This uncontested election raises questions about the transparency and accessibility of the FIA's electoral process. While Ben Sulayem's current term has seen significant shifts, including a focus on global motorsport development and a sometimes-strained relationship with F1's commercial rights holder, an unopposed re-election could consolidate his authority further, potentially impacting future policy decisions in Formula 1 and beyond.
The Details:
- Eligibility Requirements: FIA regulations stipulate that a presidential candidate must submit a list of 10 other figures, including seven Vice Presidents for Sport representing different global regions. Crucially, this includes one Vice President from South America.
- The South American Hurdle: The key issue arose because the FIA's official list of eligible World Motor Sport Council candidates only featured one name from South America: Fabiana Ecclestone, the wife of former F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone. She is already a part of Ben Sulayem's existing team.
- Challengers Stymied: Due to Ecclestone's inclusion on Ben Sulayem's slate, all other potential candidates, such as Tim Mayer, Laura Villars, and Virginie Philipott, were unable to complete the required 10-person list, as they lacked an eligible South American representative.
- Current Team: The table below outlines Ben Sulayem's current team, which fulfills all regional requirements:
| Name | Position | | :----------------------------- | :------------------------------------------------------ | | Mohammed Ben Sulayem (UAE) | president of the FIA | | Carmelo Sanz De Barros (Spain) | president of the senate | | Timothy Shearman (Canada) | deputy president for automobile mobility and tourism | | Malcolm Wilson (UK) | deputy president for sport | | Abdulla al-Khalifa (Bahrain) | vice-president for sport (Middle East and North Africa) | | Rodrigo Rocha (Mozambique) | vice-president for sport (Africa) | | Daniel Coen (Costa Rica) | vice-president for sport (North America) | | Fabiana Ecclestone (Brazil) | vice-president for sport (South America) | | Lung-Nien Lee (Singapore) | vice-president for sport (Asia-Pacific) | | Manuel Aviñó (Spain) | vice-president for sport (Europe) | | Anna Nordkvist (Sweden) | vice-president for sport (Europe) |
- Legal Challenge: Laura Villars, one of the thwarted challengers, has initiated legal action, arguing that the election rules which led to an unopposed candidacy breach the FIA's own statutes. A judge in Paris is set to rule on this matter on December 3rd, just nine days before the scheduled election in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
What's next:
The legal ruling on December 3rd will be crucial. While it may not directly alter the current election outcome, it could set a precedent for future FIA electoral processes, potentially leading to reforms that address concerns about fair competition and wider representation. Regardless, Mohammed Ben Sulayem is poised to continue leading the FIA, with his second term officially commencing after the election in Tashkent.