FIA President Pushes for Removal of Term Limits in Major Governance Shake-Up
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem is backing a proposal that could significantly alter the governance structure of motorsport’s governing body by removing term limits for senior leadership positions.
If approved, the proposed changes would allow Ben Sulayem to remain in office beyond the current maximum tenure of 12 years. Under existing FIA regulations, presidents serve four-year terms and may be re-elected twice, limiting any individual to three terms in total.
The initiative comes just months after the Emirati official secured another term as FIA president in December. His re-election was uncontested after election rules prevented potential challengers from entering the race, effectively leaving him without opposition.
An FIA spokesperson confirmed that the proposal aims to create a more uniform approach to tenure rules across various FIA bodies. According to the governing body, the suggested reforms would bring leadership positions into line with structures already used within the FIA’s World Councils and Senate.
However, the proposal is still subject to approval through the FIA’s democratic processes. It must first be reviewed by the World Councils before being voted on by the General Assembly, which holds the authority to approve or reject constitutional changes.
The proposed reforms would not only affect the FIA presidency but also several other positions that currently operate under term limits. These include leadership roles within the anti-doping committee and the Formula 1 cost-cap oversight structure.
The current three-term restriction was introduced during the presidency of Jean Todt, who led the FIA from 2009 to 2021. Todt succeeded Max Mosley, whose long tenure ended after serving as president for 16 years.
Questions have been raised regarding the rationale behind eliminating existing term limits rather than extending them to other FIA positions. When asked to explain the reasoning, FIA representatives did not provide a detailed justification.
Instead, officials pointed to examples from other major sports organisations. They cited Roger Goodell, who has served as commissioner of the National Football League since 2006. The FIA argued that continuity in leadership can contribute to long-term growth, highlighting the NFL’s expansion and governance record during Goodell’s tenure.
The debate has also drawn comparisons with the International Olympic Committee. In contrast to the FIA proposal, former IOC president Thomas Bach declined an opportunity to pursue a rule change that would have allowed him to remain in office beyond the organisation’s 12-year limit, stating that fresh leadership was important for the future of the Olympic movement.
Criticism of the FIA proposal has emerged from governance advocates. Tim Mayer, who was unable to challenge Ben Sulayem in last year’s election, argued that term limits play a crucial role in maintaining accountability and preventing excessive concentration of power. He described them as an essential safeguard that promotes leadership renewal and strengthens trust in organisational governance.
The proposal is expected to spark significant debate within the FIA as members consider its potential impact on the future leadership of global motorsport.