What does the FIA president actually do?

The FIA president role has been in the spotlight for some months now as a result of the turmoil within the ruling body and the decisions made by Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

The Emirati will be seeking re-election later this year, and it looks likely he will face World Rally legend Carlos Sainz as his rival should the Spaniard gather enough support for his candidacy.

And while Ben Sulayem has been making the headlines mainly due to his comments and decisions relating to Formula 1, his role involves a lot more than just talking about grand prix racing.

What exactly does the FIA president do?

The president of the FIA is the chief executive of motor sport’s governing body and all motoring organisations of the member countries.

It is comprised of 245 motoring and motor sport club members in 149 countries that add up to 80 million members.

In their role, the FIA president oversee its operations, providing leadership and strategic direction for both its motorsport and mobility divisions.

The president supervises all changes to the championships under the FIA’s jurisdiction, including F1, the World Rally Championship, the World Endurance Championship and many others.

They are the public representative of the governing body, acting as the principal figure in interactions with governments, international organisations, and the media.

The president is in charge of chairing the FIA General Assembly, the highest decision-making body, which includes representatives from member clubs worldwide. This assembly votes on major policies and the election of key officials, including the president.

The role also includes proposing new policies and resolutions to the various commissions and committees within the FIA, helping to shape the future direction of motorsport and motoring advocacy.

The president also has the power to make decisions to change race operations, restructure race control, and address governance and sustainability issues within motorsport.

Recently, Ben Sulayem removed Formula 1 race director Niels Wittich from his role and replaced him with Rui Marques.

How is the FIA president elected?

The FIA president is elected by the General Assembly for a four-year term, with a maximum of three terms allowed. There’s only been one president who has run the maximum allowed number of terms: Jean Todt, who was FIA president from 2009 to 2021.

Under statutes changed last year, candidates must be under 70 years old on election day and require backing from a set number of member clubs. Previously, the age limit was 75.

The election is conducted via secret ballot, with each member nation allotted votes split between sport and mobility categories.

When is the next FIA presidential election?

The next FIA presidential election is scheduled to take place on 12 December 2025 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

How much is the FIA president paid?

As the head of a non-profit organisation, the FIA president doesn’t get paid a salary, even though the ruling body itself generates income through means such as entry and superlicence fees.