Driver Villars starts legal action against FIA

Laura Villars, a Swiss racing driver, has filed a lawsuit against the organization’s governing body for the sport.

Villars had indicated that he would oppose Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the incumbent, in the December presidential election. However, no other candidate can run due to a tidbit of the FIA election rules.

The court’s legal summons requests that Paris’ court “order the suspension of the FIA presidential election, which is scheduled to take place on December 12 until a decision is made” regarding the dispute.

According to Villars, “this procedure aims to ensure that the FIA’s upcoming presidential election, which is scheduled for December 12th, 2025, is held in accordance with the organization’s own statutes and fundamental democratic principles.”

The FIA’s Article 1.3, which requires the organization to “respect the highest standards of governance, transparency, and democracy,” and the fact that it is a French-law association with a Paris headquarters makes the legal action “subject to French jurisdiction.”

This is a responsible and constructive initiative to promote pluralism, ethics, and transparency in global motorsport governance. It is neither hostile nor political.

I’ve made it clear that I’m not acting against the FIA, as I have previously stated in public. It needs my protection, so I’m doing it. The FIA benefits from democracy more than it does from democracy.

The FIA is unable to comment on this legal action and will not be able to make any additional comments on this matter, according to a FIA spokesperson.

In a “spirit of openness and good faith,” Villars claimed that the court had invited both parties to a mediation meeting and that she would attend.

She said, “I will attend this mediation hearing with the same attitude I have always had: calm, openness, and determination.”

I hope it will eventually lead to a sincere discussion in the name of a more up-to-date, fair, and connected FIA.

“I’ve tried twice to engage the FIA in constructive dialogue about crucial issues like internal democracy and electoral transparency. The responses provided were insufficiently challenging.

The presidential process would likely be postponed until the results of an investigation into what needs to change in the FIA’s governance processes if Villars wins her case.

Ben Sulayem would continue in power with a caretaker mandate that would prevent him from making any significant changes or decisions if that took longer than the election’s window.

The courts could employ a third party to ensure that the facts were accurate.

Villars’ argument is based on the method used by FIA election rules to block Ben Sulayem’s rival candidates.

Candidates for president must submit a list of their potential vice presidents for sport, which must be chosen from each of the FIA’s six global regions as well as a list of candidates who are qualified to serve on the FIA world motorsport council.

However, there is only one candidate from South America on this year’s list: Brazilian Fabiana Ecclestone, the wife of former Formula 1 boss Bernie, and she is a member of Ben Sulayem’s team.

No one else can enter the election because of that, which would prevent any other candidates from naming a potential vice-president for sport from South America.

Tim Mayer, a fellow candidate, announced this month that his campaign for president was ending, accusing the FIA of “lacking transparency” and creating “the illusion of democracy.”

A FIA spokesperson responded, “The FIA presidential election is a structured and democratic process that ensures fairness and integrity at every stage.”

The election process has previously faced opposition.

In 2013, former rally driver Ari Vatanen and Briton David Ward faced off against Jean Todt in a legal dispute, and Max Mosley’s decision to run again led to his win in a mediation.