Mohammed Ben Sulayem is preparing to scrap an age limit that he introduced himself three years ago. A proposal seen by BBC Sport will go to the FIA General Assembly in Shanghai next month. If it passes, motorsport’s governing body will drop the clause in its statutes that stops anyone over 75 from standing as part of a presidential team.
This would be the second big change to the FIA’s election rules in 2026. About six months ago the FIA abolished limits on how many terms people can serve in senior positions. Critics say the two changes together are meant to let Ben Sulayem stay president for life. The Emirati, who has led the FIA since December 2021, turns 65 on Thursday.
What the proposal says
The FIA’s case rests on the size of the candidate pool. The proposal says age limits “could restrict the number of qualified candidates eligible for election by the competent bodies, in particular individuals whose experience and expertise could be of benefit to the FIA.”
The changes to the rules on age and tenure under Ben Sulayem:
- 2023: An upper age limit of 70 is introduced during his first term as president.
- 2024: The limit is raised to 75. The FIA said the aim was “modernising the governance of the FIA.”
- 2026: Limits on the number of terms in senior FIA posts are abolished.
- December 2026: The General Assembly in Shanghai votes on removing the age limit altogether.
The FIA did not respond when BBC Sport and The Independent asked for comment.
A rule written for one election
The proposal’s argument is the opposite of the one the FIA made in 2023. Ben Sulayem said then that an age ceiling would “enhance governance and accountability within the organisation.” The governing body said it “reflected the FIA’s commitment to maintaining high standards in its leadership and governance structures.”
The limit was widely seen as a way to stop David Richards, the chair of Motorsport UK, from standing against Ben Sulayem at the 2025 presidential election. Richards was 70 at the time.
When the 2025 vote took place in December, Ben Sulayem was re-elected unopposed to a four-year term. Two challengers, the Swiss racer Laura Villars and former FIA steward Tim Mayer, never made it onto the ballot. The statutes require every presidential list to include a vice-presidential nominee from each of the FIA’s six world regions. The only South American nominee, Fabiana Ecclestone, was already on Ben Sulayem’s ticket. Villars took legal action in France against the FIA, alleging “serious democratic failings.”
What it means going forward
Ben Sulayem’s current term runs until the end of 2029, when he will be 68. That is well below the current limit, so the change makes no difference to the next election. Its significance is that, together with the end of term limits, it would remove the last restriction in the statutes on how long a president can stay in office.
The proposal also comes after years of turmoil in the governing body’s senior ranks. Robert Reid resigned as deputy president for sport in April 2025, citing “a fundamental breakdown in governance standards” within the FIA. Richards and Reid had earlier been shut out of a World Motor Sport Council meeting after refusing to sign a non-disclosure agreement. Former chief executive Natalie Robyn left in 2024, as did senior officials in the race control, compliance and audit departments. Ben Sulayem has also clashed in public with Formula 1’s drivers, most notably over his crackdown on swearing.
Outside pressure is growing too. In October 2025 the European Parliament passed a resolution stating that “the autonomy of sport is conditional upon good governance.” A European Union consultation on the governance of sports bodies is due to report by the end of the year.
The vote in Shanghai is now the key moment. The member clubs that re-elected Ben Sulayem unopposed will decide whether to remove one of the few remaining checks on his presidency. That would come only three years after he told them the same check was essential to good governance.
Sports journalist and editor at SportsPortal.net. Covers cricket, football, Formula 1, tennis, and basketball with a focus on how global sports connect with Pakistani audiences. Follows the PSL, Pakistan national cricket team, Premier League, and major international tournaments. Has reported on sports for digital audiences since 2021.
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