Former long-serving Formula 1 steward Tim Mayer has formally declared his candidacy for the presidency of the FIA, vowing to overhaul the sport’s global governing body and restore trust among its members.
The 59-year-old American becomes the first confirmed challenger to current president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who is seeking re-election this December for a second term.
Mayer’s decision to run follows growing dissatisfaction among some FIA insiders and stakeholders, with criticisms of the current leadership mounting over recent years.
Member Clubs Deserve Better
Mayer explained that his decision to run was motivated by both a sense of duty and concern over the FIA’s current direction.
“It comes from a combination of wanting to and needing to,” Mayer said, speaking to Motorsport.com.
“I have had the opportunity over the last six months to consider what would be required to lead the FIA and what I have discovered is that the member clubs deserve better.
“Mohammed Ben Sulayem made promises three and a half years ago that were good ideas – transparency, governance, he even promised he would be a non-executive president. He hasn’t delivered on those ideas. In fact, it has been quite the opposite.”
Mayer emphasized the importance of better partnerships with championships and drivers, promising a leadership style built on mutual respect and inclusivity.
“There are lots of reasons I have decided this is the right thing to do, I could go on and on about them,” he added.
“We can be, and must be, better partners with international championships and drivers. I understand how to treat people with respect, especially those who have earned it by reaching the pinnacle of their careers.
“I will champion the small clubs, being honest about the change that is required and what I would want to bring about. Leadership should not be about personality, and I have 34 years’ experience. I understand what it takes, I have an opportunity to give back to the sport.”
Fallout with FIA and Drive for Reform
Mayer’s bid comes in the wake of his controversial departure from the FIA in 2024. He claimed he was dismissed from his position via text message following his involvement in a hearing regarding a fine against the United States Grand Prix promoter.
According to Mayer, Ben Sulayem viewed the evidence in that case as a “personal attack.”
Despite the acrimonious exit, Mayer insisted that his candidacy is about restoring the FIA’s core values, not seeking revenge.
“The test of true leadership is nurturing people, the FIA has been a roundabout – attracting some of the best talent and then forcing them out when they tell the truth, it is all very concerning,” he said.
“They all seemed to have faced a reality they did not expect, the FIA had some serious people who have seen inside and said, ‘not for me’. Members of the World Motorsport Council are being told they can’t talk to members and clubs about the latest meetings.
“Debate has to occur, it is the first step to making good decisions, I would change those things extremely quickly.”
“Drivers deserve respect”
A significant point of contention during Ben Sulayem’s presidency has been his strained relationship with drivers – particularly following an attempt to ban swearing during FIA-sanctioned events. Mayer made it clear that he intends to mend those ties.
“You must understand drivers are the core, they are the stars of our sports. You need to partner with them, nurture the relationships, that is when we see the sport thrive. That is not just about the drivers but all the stakeholders, they all deserve respect,” he said.
“No-one is a child, these people are at the peak of their careers and need to be treated with dignity and respect.
“Many people have missed that in the individual statute changes; they might be seen as being about integrity or modernising but take all of them together and you can clearly see it is about putting more and more power into the office of one man.”
Uphill Battle Ahead
Mayer faces a tough road to election. In recent weeks, Ben Sulayem received a public show of support from 36 automobile clubs in the form of a signed letter – a move Mayer dismissed as political posturing.
“The regulations as they are written are for the benefit of the incumbent but my job and responsibility is to go door to door, to those who have a vote and explain there is a better way, they haven’t had another option in three and a half years,” he said.
Read also: Ben Sulayem’s FIA overhaul passes despite calls for delay“When a letter is shoved under your nose and you are told ‘sign this, or else’ anyone is going to sign it. But the only vote that counts are in December, that process will still have full democracy. I need to earn their trust, earn their votes and demonstrate myself and my team is strong enough to bring about change.”
As the FIA election approaches, Mayer’s candidacy injects fresh energy – and renewed debate – into a governing body in need of both reform and reflection. Whether that will be enough to shift the tide remains to be seen.
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