Contested FIA Presidential Election to Proceed Amid Legal Battle**

The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) presidential election will proceed as planned, despite a legal challenge that could potentially invalidate the results in early 2026.

By Chris Posiano

December 4, 2025 at 2:19 AM

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The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) presidential election is scheduled to take place next week, despite an ongoing legal dispute that could lead to the results being overturned in February 2026. The peculiarities of the election regulations have left Mohamed Ben Sulayem as the sole candidate for the 12 December vote in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Swiss racing driver Laura Villars had intended to challenge Ben Sulayem but initiated legal action against the FIA in October to contest the election process. Although a Paris court did not suspend the election, it acknowledged that the irregularities raised by Villars warranted examination. The court's decision allows the election to proceed as scheduled, with Ben Sulayem poised to secure a second four-year term.

Villars' legal representative, Robin Binsard, indicated that the litigation will continue, with a hearing set for 16 February 2026. The press release from Villars' team suggested that the court's decision could potentially invalidate the election results. The FIA, however, remains focused on the upcoming General Assemblies and addressing critical issues in motorsport and automotive mobility.

The legal challenge stems from the requirement for candidates to assemble a slate of potential vice-presidents from each of the FIA's global regions. Villars and another candidate, American Tim Mayer, were unable to meet the deadline due to the scarcity of eligible candidates from certain regions, particularly South America. This regulatory hurdle has left Ben Sulayem as the only eligible candidate, sparking accusations of a lack of transparency and democratic process within the FIA.

Villars had announced her candidacy in September but was unable to secure the necessary support from the official list of 29 potential vice-presidents. The FIA has maintained that the election process is structured and democratic, ensuring fairness and integrity at every stage. The outcome of the legal battle and the February hearing could significantly impact the future leadership and governance of the FIA.