The FIA presidential election, due to be held next week, will go ahead, but supposed anomalies brought up in legal proceedings means the result may not necessarily stand.
The sport’s governing body‘s incumbent, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, will run unopposed in the election, which will be held in Tashkent, Uzebekistan, on December 12.
This was due to the three challengers – Tim Mayer, Laura Villars and Virginie Philippot – being unable to obtain the sufficient support required within the rules.
Villars, the second of the three to declare her candidacy, brought a legal challenge in Paris, in the hope of at least bringing about a postponement of the election.
Whilst the Paris Judicial Court Judge Malik Chapuis ruled against “Interim Relief,” but ruled against the FIA’s claim that Villars nor Mayer – whose FIA Forward moniker supported Villars’ action – had standing to bring it to court in the first place.
However, the Chapuis also stated that the case was “not established with the degree of obviousness required in interim proceedings.”
In a statement released by Villars, the Swiss stated that Chapuis “held that the irregularities raised regarding the presidential election must be examined”.
Robin Binsard, Villars’ lawyer, added: “We will therefore continue this litigation against the FIA before the judges sitting on the merits. A first hearing is scheduled for 16 February 2026.”
A statement released by FIA Forward stated that another hearing is set for early next year, meaning that despite the continuation of the election, the result may not necessarily be rubberstamped just yet
Mayer: Judgement ‘not the end’, FIA ‘focused’ on future assemblies
“Today’s judgment is not the end of the legal process,” it read. “As stated by Laura Villars’ attorney, Maître Robin Binsard, “The emergency-proceedings judge held that this dispute belongs before the trial court, and we will therefore continue this case against the FIA before the judges who hear matters on the merits. A first hearing is scheduled for 16 February 2026.”
This legal action has been led by presidential candidate Laura Villars with the support of Tim Mayer’s FIA Forward campaign. Tim Mayer has consistently maintained that the lack of transparency, accountability, and the excessive concentration of presidential authority within the FIA undermine the ability of Members to evaluate competing visions for the future of the organisation. Regardless of their political alignment, all Member Clubs deserve an open, fair and credible electoral process.
FIA Forward will continue to advocate for integrity, transparency and genuine democratic practice within our governing structures as the case proceeds to a full hearing on the merits in February.
A statement from the FIA read: “The French Court has issued its decision on 3rd December, confirming that the election for the President of the FIA will proceed on 12th December at the FIA General Assemblies in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
“The FIA remains focused on the forthcoming General Assemblies and discussing with its member clubs globally important issues for both motorsport and automotive mobility.”
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