Mohamed Ben Sulayem has been re-elected as FIA president and will serve a second four-year term until 2029.
The 64-year-old Emirati has been at the helm of world motorsport’s governing body since December 2021 after succeeding Jean Todt and was re-elected unopposed during the FIA’s annual general assembly in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Ben Sulayem, former rally driver, said: “Thank you to all our FIA members for voting in incredible numbers and for putting their trust in me once again.
“We have overcome many obstacles, but today we are here, together, stronger than ever.”
“It’s a real honor to be president of the FIA and I’m committed to continuing to work for the FIA, for motorsport, for mobility and for our member clubs in every region around the world.”
Ben Sulayem ran unopposed after potential rivals – notably American ex-steward Tim Mayer and Swiss-French driver Laura Villars – were unable to meet the FIA’s election requirement that candidates must nominate a vice-president from each of its six global regions.
Each candidate had to nominate one person from each FIA global region by October 24, but only one South American appeared on the official list – Brazilian Fabiana Ecclestone, who is married to former F1 supremo Bernie and is in Ben Sulayem’s team.
In October, Villar launched legal proceedings to challenge the election rules in French courts. A Paris court ruled earlier this month that the FIA elections could still go ahead as scheduled. Villars’ legal team said: “The emergency judge feels that this dispute belongs in the trial court and we will therefore continue this case against the FIA before the judges on the merits” with a hearing scheduled for February 16.
The FIA said the election “was conducted in accordance with the FIA statutes through a robust and transparent voting process, which reflects the democratic foundations of the federation and the collective voice of its global membership.”