FIA Forward’s Tim Mayer is expected to formally withdraw from the process on Friday
Photography by Toyota
Words by David Evans, DirtFish Head of Media
Mohammed Ben Sulayem will face no opposition at December’s FIA presidential elections, with Tim Mayer expected to withdraw from the process at a press conference in Austin, Texas on Friday, according to British newspaper The Guardian.
Mayer will host a media briefing to “outline the future” of his FIA Forward campaign in Austin on Friday morning.
Mayer was one of three candidates set to oppose Ben Sulayem along with Belgian journalist Virginie Philpott and former racing driver Laura Villars. Candidates for the December 12 election are required to reveal their team on October 24 – that team must include six potential vice-presidents for sport, one from each of the FIA’s global regions.
Fabiana Ecclestone, wife of former Formula 1 owner Bernie Ecclestone, is South America’s sole World Motor Sport Council representative in South America – and has already aligned with Ben Sulayem.
That leaves Ben Sulayem’s rivals unable to field the team required to stand on October 24.
When questioned about this process, an FIA spokesperson said: “The FIA Presidential election is a structured and democratic process, aimed at ensuring the fairness and integrity of each of its stages.
“The conditions applicable to the regional representation of the Vice Presidents for Sport and the obligation to select them from the World Motor Sport Council in order to estbalish a Presidential List are not new. These criteria already applied to previous elections.
“Preparing a candidacy for a Presidential List or for the World Councils requires certain steps. Since the publication of detailed information on June 13, all potential candidates have the relevant information to prepare their candidacy.”
DirtFish has contacted Mayer’s office for comment.
Words:David Evans
Tags: FIA, FIA president, Mohammed ben Sulayem, WRC
Publish Date October 16, 2025 DirtFish 
https://dirtfish-editorial.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/2025/10/jQszF59W-Ogier10PAR25cm194-2-780x520.jpg October 16, 2025
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