The campaign for the FIA presidency has begun. Candidate Tim Mayer has already launched an attack on current president Mohammed Ben Sulayem in Silverstone, but now also reveals, through an ‘impact manifesto’, how he would approach the FIA presidency differently than the Emirati. In his initial plans for the FIA presidency, Mayer primarily advocates for more transparency within the governing body.
Tim Mayer officially announced his candidacy for the FIA presidency prior to the British Grand Prix. In a press moment near the Silverstone circuit, he already presented his election slogan, FIA Forward, and his first progressive plans for the organization. With his ‘impact manifesto’ unveiled on Thursday, the American’s plans are taking on a more solid form. “Our mission is to offer members a compelling alternative to the current FIA leadership, with the aim of executing the FIA’s ambitions in an ethical and effective manner,” is the first statement in the manifesto.
Mayer’s Ambition to Improve FIA’s Reputation
Mayer is keen on enhancing the reputation of the FIA. In his presentation, the American emphasized that the transparency of the governing processes within the current FIA has declined. Therefore, Mayer’s goal is for the FIA to be among the “top twenty percent of governing bodies based on globally recognized criteria” by 2028. The presidential candidate immediately reveals that on day one of his potential term as FIA president, he will “roll back the presidential excesses”. This implies a limitation on the executive power of the president over bodies such as the audit committee and the executive committee.
Advisory Role
The manifesto also outlines the intended milestones for Mayer during the first hundred days – restructuring the leadership structure so that the president no longer has executive power – and the first year – including reducing costs. The former FIA steward also wants to stop the president’s authority to arbitrarily dismiss people. All in all, the role of the FIA president becomes more ‘advisory’ than ‘executive’ under Mayer.
“It’s about values – honesty, transparency, and service – not control,” Mayer summarizes his plans. “Real responsibility means clear decisions, honest reporting, and leadership that earns trust by listening and delivering real growth.” The American has not yet announced who the vice presidents will be under his leadership, and his plans in the field of sports and mobility are still a question mark.
