LAURA VILLARS Legal Fight Shows FIA Election Rules Need Serious Reform Work

December 12, 2025

• LAURA VILLARS stepped up to challenge Mohammed Ben Sulayem for FIA president, but the federation’s Byzantine election rules requiring vice-presidents from all six global regions effectively blocked her candidacy. It’s a classic case of rules that sound fair on paper but create impossible barriers in practice.
• The Swiss-French racing driver isn’t backing down quietly – she’s taken the fight to French courts, arguing the election requirements are fundamentally flawed. While a Paris court let the election proceed, her legal team secured a February hearing to challenge the system on its merits.
• Meanwhile, FABIANA ECCLESTONE emerged as the only South American on the official candidate list, conveniently serving on Ben Sulayem’s unopposed ticket. We’re seeing how administrative requirements can shape who gets to run for motorsport’s most powerful position, and it’s worth questioning whether these rules truly serve the sport’s best interests.

ABB FIA Formula E, election rules, legal challenge, motorsport governance