LAURA VILLARS Makes History as First Woman to Run for FIA President

September 18, 2025

by Jake Nichol // from racingnews365.com

GRRL! SUMMARY:

Swiss driver LAURA VILLARS just shattered another glass ceiling by becoming the first woman to run for FIA president, joining incumbent Mohammed Ben Sulayem and former F1 steward Tim Mayer in what’s shaping up to be motorsport’s most consequential election in years. At 28, she’s bringing Formula 3 and Formula 4 racing credentials plus current Ligier European Series experience to challenge an old boys’ club that’s overdue for fresh thinking.
Her platform reads like everything we’ve been waiting for: “more democratic, more transparent, more responsible, and open to women and new generations.” Translation? No more backroom deals and token gestures. VILLARS is pushing hard for enhanced Women in Motorsport programs, a FIA Young Leaders Academy, and participatory governance that actually includes the clubs and license holders who make this sport happen.
The timing couldn’t be better as motorsport grapples with relevance to younger, more diverse audiences. While the FIA confirms they haven’t received her official application yet, VILLARS has already laid out sustainability initiatives and transparency measures that signal she’s serious about dragging the federation into the modern era. The December 2025 election in Tashkent just became must-watch television.