The elections for the FIA presidency are approaching, but it increasingly appears that the race is already run for the current incumbent, Mohammed Ben Sulayem. The Emirati seems to be the only candidate able to assemble a complete and valid election team, one of the requirements a candidate must meet to stand for election in December.
The elections for the FIA presidency for the next four years will be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on December 12. One of the candidates is the current FIA president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, but it is now questionable whether his three fellow candidates can assemble a complete and valid team. Ben Sulayem and the three other candidates – former F1 steward Tim Mayer, Swiss racer Laura Villars, and Belgian TV presenter Virginie Philippot – have from October 3 to 24 to submit their full team – the so-called ‘presidential list’.
The team must include, among others, a chairman of the senate, a vice-chairman for mobility and tourism, a vice-chairman for sport, and seven regional vice-chairmen for sport – two vice-chairmen from Europe, and one from each region of the MENA, consisting of the Middle East, North Africa, the rest of Africa, North America, South America, and Asia-Pacific. The FIA regulations state that each candidate for these positions may only appear on one presidential list and must be eligible for a seat on the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC). The list of qualified candidates is now public and includes only one representative from South America: Fabiana Ecclestone.
Ecclestone
Ecclestone is the wife of former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, and is currently already Ben Sulayem’s vice-chair in South America. The Brazilian is also part of the Emirati’s election team. As a result, no other candidate for the FIA presidency can currently assemble a complete presidential list that meets all geographical requirements.
