International Automobile FederationCompetition·International Automobile Federation (FIA) President Mohammed Ben SulayemPlayer·Mohammed Ben Sulayem has initiated a proposal to remove the existing term limits for the presidential office. The current regulations, outlined in Article 20.10 of the FIA statutes, restrict a president to a maximum of three four-year terms, totaling 12 years, whether consecutive or not. This significant change, if approved, would allow for unlimited re-election until the age of 70.
Mohammed Ben SulayemPlayer·Mohammed Ben Sulayem is currently serving his second term, having been re-elected in late 2025 without opposition. His re-election was facilitated by a technicality in the electoral rules, which required candidates to nominate a vice-president from each of the six global FIA regions. Fabiana EcclestonePlayer·Fabiana Ecclestone, the only accredited South American candidate, was already part of Ben Sulayem's team, effectively preventing other potential candidates, including Carlos Sainz Sr.Player·Carlos Sainz Sr., Tim MayerPlayer·Tim Mayer, and Laura VillarsPlayer·Laura Villars, from contesting the election. Laura VillarsPlayer·Laura Villars has since filed a lawsuit against the FIA in France regarding this electoral process, with the initial hearing scheduled for February 16, 2026.
According to a spokesperson for the FIA, the proposal is linked to other changes concerning mandates within the federation. The spokesperson emphasized that the proposal requires approval from the world councils and the FIA General Assembly, asserting that these bodies retain the democratic power to elect their leadership. The vote on this proposal is anticipated to take place at the FIA General Assembly in MacauVenue·Macau on June 26, 2026.
The three-term limit was originally introduced during the tenure of Jean TodtPlayer·Jean Todt, who served 12 years as FIA President. Prior to Todt, Max MosleyPlayer·Max Mosley led the federation for 16 years, while his predecessor, Jean-Marie BalestrePlayer·Jean-Marie Balestre, completed two four-year terms. Critics of the proposed change argue that term limits are a vital safeguard for good governance, preventing the concentration of power and ensuring periodic renewal of leadership.
Mohammed Ben SulayemPlayer·Mohammed Ben Sulayem has expressed his perspective on the duration of the presidential role. "I feel that three years in a complex federation like FIA not enough," Ben Sulayem stated. He also conveyed his gratitude to the FIA members for their confidence in his re-election. This development follows a period of scrutiny regarding Ben Sulayem's administration, including controversial amendments to the FIA statutes in June 2025 that granted him increased control ahead of the December presidential elections. Furthermore, December 2025 saw the signing of the new Concorde Agreement for 2026-2030 between the FIA, Formula 1Competition·Formula 1, and the teams, which outlines the championship's governance framework and could potentially enhance the FIA's authority in voting structures.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem celebrates with Andrea Kimi Antonelli after his Miami Grand Prix victory. Eibner/IMAGO
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