FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem intends to propose a significant change to the rules of the entity that governs Formula 1 and other motorsport categories. The idea is to eliminate the current limit of three terms for the presidency, allowing unlimited re-elections until the age of 70.
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The proposal is expected to be presented on June 26, during the FIA General Assembly in Macau. According to information, the measure has a high chance of being approved due to the support that Ben Sulayem maintains mainly among the smaller federations linked to the entity.
Currently, each FIA presidential term lasts four years, with a maximum of three consecutive terms, totaling twelve years in office. Re-elected at the end of 2025 after assuming the presidency in 2021 in place of Jean Todt, the Emirati leader would already have the right to run for a third term under the current rules. If the change goes ahead, he could remain beyond this limit.
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The current rules also stipulate that a candidate cannot be older than 69 at the time of the election to complete a full term. Ben Sulayem will be 69 in a possible third candidacy. In 2025, names like Carlos Sainz Sr. and Tim Mayer tried to challenge the current president advocating for a more democratic FIA, but support for the leader was dominant.
“I feel that three years in a complex federation like the FIA is not enough,” Ben Sulayem said at the time. The president also complained about the financial distribution in the category: “It doesn’t make sense to me that a Formula 1 driver and a team principal earn more money than the entire FIA, considering that the FIA owns the championship.” During his tenure, he accumulated controversies involving conflicts with Liberty Media, criticism for severe penalties against swearing, and internal changes that raised questions about the autonomy of the audit and ethics committees.
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