Tim Mayer, the last remaining challenger to FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, has formally ended his campaign for the organisation’s top job, accusing the governing body of presenting an “illusion of democracy”. The former FIA senior steward, who was sacked last year, said on Friday that the incumbent would run unopposed because of electoral regulations that effectively blocked any alternative candidate.
Under FIA rules, presidential nominees must submit six prospective vice-presidents, one from each global region represented on the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC). However, South America has only one council representative – Fabiana Ecclestone, wife of former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone – who has already declared support for Ben Sulayem. With no other eligible candidates from that region, Mayer and two other would-be contenders could not meet the requirement.
“When elections are decided before ballots are cast, that’s not democracy – that’s theatre,” Mayer said. “And when member clubs are left with no real choice, they become spectators, not participants.” He also questioned why the number of WMSC members had dropped from 40 in 2021 to 29 this year, suggesting member clubs may have been “persuaded, pressured or promised something not to stand”.
Mayer cited a report commissioned from the Utrecht School of Governance, which described the FIA’s governance as “power without brakes”. The report warned that unless independent oversight and open elections are introduced, the FIA will remain “structurally predisposed to the concentration of power”. Mayer argued this lack of democratic governance threatens Formula One, as teams with strict governance standards may view the FIA as a risk.
Ben Sulayem’s tenure since 2021 has been marked by controversy, including clashes with drivers and high-profile departures such as deputy president for sport Robert Reid, who cited a “breakdown of governance standards” in April. Lewis Hamilton has also criticised the FIA, saying there is “a real lack of accountability”. Despite ending his campaign, Mayer said he would continue to highlight what he believes is wrong with the current system.
