‘illusion Of Democracy’: Ben Sulayem’s Last Rival Exits Fia Presidential Race

The FIA has been accused of presenting an “illusion of democracy” successful an uncompromising broadside from nan past remaining challenger to Mohammed Ben Sulayem arsenic he formally announced his effort to win nan organisation’s incumbent president was over. Tim Mayer, a erstwhile FIA elder steward, besides condemned Formula One’s governing assemblage for lacking transparency and threatening nan sport’s future.

The 59-year-old American, who was sacked from his FIA domiciled past year, had been opinionated arsenic a campaigner against Ben Sulayem but connected Friday successful Austin acknowledged nan incumbent would tally unopposed because of nan measurement FIA electoral regulations are composed.

“There will beryllium only 1 candidate, nan incumbent,” Mayer said. “That’s not populist – that’s nan illusion of democracy.”

Mayer, and 2 different would-be candidates cannot guidelines because statesmanlike nominees are required to taxable six prospective vice-presidents, 1 from each of nan FIA’s world regions, represented connected nan World Motor Sport Council (WMSC).

The Brazilian woman of nan erstwhile F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, Fabiana Ecclestone, is nan only world assembly typical for South America and has already declared for Ben Sulayem. With nary others eligible to beryllium nominated arsenic a vice-president, nary campaigner tin meet FIA requirements.

Mayer noted that successful South America only 1 personification had stood for nan WMSC and successful Africa only two, some of whom he said “are straight associated pinch nan incumbent”.

“When elections are decided earlier ballots are cast, that’s not populist – that’s theatre,” he said. “And erstwhile personnel clubs are near pinch nary existent choice, they go spectators, not participants.”

Mayer questioned why location were truthful fewer representatives connected nan WMSC database and why nan number of eligible members had dropped from 40 successful 2021 to 29 this year. “Did personnel clubs abruptly suffer liking successful shaping nan sport? Were they persuaded, pressured aliases promised thing not to stand? I cannot opportunity for sure,” he said.

When campaigning Mayer said that he had recovered FIA personnel clubs crossed nan world did not want to situation nan position quo. “Across our travels, galore personnel clubs told me: ‘We want to speak, but we can’t.’ Clubs fearfulness losing projects, funding, aliases nickname if they simply mobility nan system.”

The American insisted he would proceed his run if only to item what he believes is incorrect pinch nan existent governance. He besides recognised he knew of nan regulations erstwhile he stood for president and that they whitethorn beryllium an intolerable hurdle but chose to proceed nonetheless.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, pictured pinch Max Verstappen, will tally unopposed for FIA president. Photograph: Alex Pantling/Getty Images

Mayer besides cited a study commissioned from nan Utrecht School of Governance into nan FIA utilizing nan Sports Governance Observer benchmark. Their findings were damning, nether an executive summary titled “power without brakes”.

“The FIA’s governance structurally concentrates powerfulness successful nan agency of nan president, and accountability remains confined wrong a strategy complete which nan president exercises decisive control,” it read.

“Unless independent oversight, unfastened and competitory elections, transparent decision-making, and stakeholder practice are introduced, nan FIA will stay structurally predisposed to nan attraction of power. History crossed world athletics governance shows that specified reliance invariably fails.”

The findings of nan study Mayer based on could person a basal effect connected F1, fixed that teams now person their ain bully governance practices to which they adhere.

“People who person governance agreements wrong their ain companies, which is 99.9% of nan companies successful nan Formula One paddock, they person a request for this. So they find an undemocratic FIA to beryllium a threat,” he said. “We supply a instauration which is wherever Formula One tin build its house. Without antiauthoritarian governance, without a beardown soul process, that instauration is built connected sand.”

Ben Sulayem’s clip successful complaint since 2021 has been marked by controversy, not slightest rifts pinch drivers and a drawstring of high-profile departures from nan sport’s governing body, including nan lawman president for sport, Robert Reid, who near citing a “breakdown of governance standards” successful April.

Last twelvemonth Lewis Hamilton was unequivocal erstwhile he stated Ben Sulayem had “never” had his backing, adding his sound to nan disapproval of nan FIA and informing it was damaging nan estimation of F1.

“There is simply a existent deficiency of accountability here, wrong this sport, wrong nan FIA,” he said. “There are things that are happening down closed doors, location is nary transparency, location is really nary accountability and we request that.”

The FIA has been approached for remark connected Mayer’s claims. On Thursday, nan governing assemblage had issued a connection which addressed Mayer not gathering nan requirements to beryllium a candidate.

“The FIA statesmanlike predetermination is simply a system and antiauthoritarian process, to guarantee fairness and integrity astatine each stage,” it read. “The requirements for nan 2025 FIA elections, including nan applicable deadlines and eligibility criteria for nan statesmanlike database and world councils, are defined successful nan FIA statutes and soul regulations.

“The requirements related to nan location practice of nan vice-presidents for sport, and to prime them from nan World Motor Sport Council successful bid to tie up a statesmanlike list, are not new. These criteria applied to erstwhile elections.”