Mohammed Ben Sulayem, Tim Mayer and FIA presidential election race explained after combative start | F1 News

A dramatic Sunday on the right track at the British Grand Prix has overshadowed another important race that started it – the one to direct the director of world motor sport.

Last Friday, it appeared that the outgoing Mohammed Ben Sulayem is expected to take up a challenge for the presidency of the FIA ​​during the December election of the American Tim Mayer, a former longtime delegate of the F1 who also held senior positions in American motorsport.

Formula 1 is the largest of the many world championships that the FIA ​​governs, but the election itself is not voted by the Racing series itself, but by 245 world member clubs representing motorsport and mobility. The election of the four -year presidential mandate takes place on December 12 at the annual general assemblies of the director body.

Ben Sulayem is looking for a second term after having succeeded Jean Todt after the Frenchman reached the limit of three terms of the role.

On weekends, Mayer’s challenge was confirmed, SKy Sports News Journalist Craig Slater spoke to the two candidates during the Silverstone weekend – with his interviews in the video at the top of the page.

Spices added in the 2025 competition comes from the fact that Ben Sulayem dismissed Mayer from his role as steward last November. Mayer said that even if he did not distinguish himself from “revenge”, he had found his withdrawal of the “disappointing” role with him since he had given him “an opportunity to think about the state of the FIA”.

He also accused Ben Sulayem of supervising a “reign of terror” to the organization.

Asked for his response to this statement, Ben Sulayem said Sky Sports News:: “When I was told, I just laughed.

“Maybe in the elections in the United States, you will notice that each candidate accuses others of many things, but it is not my style. It is his style.”

Ben Sulayem also countered the more specific allegations of Mayer according to which he had delivered an “illusion of inclusion” in the director of F1 and sought to concentrate power in his own hands.

Evaluation of early playing state

Analysis of the journalist of Sky Sports News Craig Slater:

Mohammed Ben Sulayem responded at the start of Tim Mayer to this competition with a few skillful counters. But will this election reveal the fault lines that divide world motor sport?

F1 will sit in a neutral corner, from where Mayer launching his campaign in a hotel in Towcester, rather than the Silverstone Paddock where he spent most of the weekend of the British Grand Prix.

The F1 relationship with the president of the FIA ​​seems better than it was a year ago – so are his greatest opponents elsewhere? Do the former allies of Ben Sulayem now form the “opposition front bench”? In 2021, Motorsport UK president David Richards supported Ben Sulayem against the British candidate Graham Stoker, but became one of his main criticisms. Robert Reid, until recently the vice-president of Ben Sulayem for sport, will he officially support Mayer’s offer? Mayer revealed that he had offered him advice.

Lewis Hamilton has expressed his frustration that the FIA ​​agreed with the jewelry and underwear of drivers rather than more important questions, but his father Anthony seems ready to play a role of FIA in a young pilot program. Mayer says he would have resisted Ben Sulayem even if Carlos Sainz SNR was still taking place. It faces a very difficult challenge. Others, including at least one well -known F1 figure, weighed by running but decided against.

Ben Sulayem is popular among member federations, especially in places like South America. Is it on the post for this race?

F1 takes a brief break before the season resumed the Belgian Grand Prix while the Sprint format returns, live on Sky Sports F1 on July 25 to 27. Stream Sky Sports with now – no contract, cancel at any time.