FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem Wants To Scrap Presidency Term Limits

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem wants to remove term limits for the head of motorsport's governing body, allowing him to remain in office indefinitely.

If approved, the change would mean the 64-year-old Emirati could stay in power beyond the current 12-year cap.

Under existing FIA rules, presidents serve four-year terms. They may be re-elected twice, limiting them to a maximum of three terms.

The proposed statute changes will be discussed and voted on at next month’s FIA General Assembly. They are expected to pass, meaning the new rules would come into place this year.

An FIA spokesperson said the proposal aimed to create “a consistent approach to tenure across all FIA bodies."

They added: “FIA bodies retain full authority to democratically elect officeholders.”

The current limits were introduced by former FIA president Jean Todt, who succeeded Max Mosley in 2009.

Asked why the FIA was removing limits instead of extending them to other roles, the organisation did not give a direct answer. However, a spokesperson cited NFL commissioner Roger Goodell as an example of long-term leadership.

FIA President Taking Criticism

Critics argue the move weakens governance safeguards. Tim Mayer, who was blocked from challenging Ben Sulayem in last year’s election, said: “Term limits are not a bureaucratic detail. They are a fundamental safeguard of good governance.”

Mayer also pointed to IOC president Thomas Bach, who rejected extending his own tenure, saying leadership renewal was important.

Additional proposed rule changes would tighten eligibility requirements for presidential candidates and extend the deadline for submitting vice-presidential teams from 49 to 100 days before elections - changes critics say would make it harder to challenge Ben Sulayem.

The controversy follows complaints over FIA election rules that prevented rivals from standing against him in 2025. One former prospective candidate, Laura Villars, is suing the FIA in French courts over the process.