American motorsport veteran Tim Mayer has formally announced his candidacy for the presidency of the FIA, motorsport’s global governing body, setting the stage for a high-stakes election in December.
The 59-year-old will contest against incumbent president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who has held the role since December 2021. Mayer’s decision to run follows his dismissal as a Formula 1 steward by Ben Sulayem last November, after he represented the Circuit of the Americas in a “right of review” hearing into a crowd invasion incident during the 2023 United States Grand Prix.
Despite the backdrop of that dismissal, Mayer insists his campaign is not motivated by personal grievance.
“This is not personal,” he told BBC Sport. “But I believe the FIA can do better — for the member clubs, for the motorsport community.”
Mayer brings decades of experience to the table, having served 15 years as a race steward in Formula 1 and holding senior leadership roles in major US motorsport series including IndyCar, IMSA, and the American Le Mans Series.
“I can bring value to our stakeholders, whether they are small clubs in under-served regions or whether it’s the Formula 1 track,” Mayer said. “I’m equally comfortable in both places.”
While his background is firmly rooted in motorsport, Mayer has also spent recent months broadening his understanding of the FIA’s mobility division — the area of its work focused on global transportation and road safety.
“To me, actually, that’s the larger opportunity,” he said. “The opportunity to have a global impact for sustainability, for accessibility, and for safety all around the world.”
Mayer’s dismissal last year came after Ben Sulayem reportedly took issue with the tone of arguments presented in the right of review hearing, perceiving them as a personal slight.
Despite that history, Mayer is focused on the future. “The goal is to go to the clubs and demonstrate to them that there is a viable alternative,” he said, expressing confidence in building a broad base of support ahead of the election.
The FIA election is expected to take place in December 2025.