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Path Cleared for Extended Term for FIA President
The FIA has overwhelmingly approved the removal of presidential term limits, clearing the path for Mohammed Ben Sulayem to remain in office longer, amid growing governance concerns.
By Sanne Vermeer - 2026-06-25T12:58:30.000Z - 2 min read
Motorsport's governing body, the FIA, has approved a proposal to eliminate term limits for its president. At a general assembly in Macau, member clubs passed the motion with a majority of over 90 percent. The initiative was put forward by current president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, allowing him to stay at the helm beyond the previously established twelve-year limit.
The move, which also applies to other roles within the FIA such as the head of the anti-doping committee, aims to ensure a consistent approach to term limits across all FIA bodies. An FIA spokesperson cited examples such as NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who has led and transformed American football since 2006, as evidence that long-term leadership can yield fruitful results.
Concurrently, new and stricter rules have come into force for future presidential candidates. Candidates are now required to hold proven experience within the FIA, and the deadline for submitting a slate of vice-presidents has more than doubled. In practice, these changes make it harder for potential challengers to launch a candidacy and mount a credible campaign against the incumbent president.
However, the decisions have raised critical questions. Robert Reid, who stepped down last year as FIA vice-president for sport, expressed concerns over the shift in how authority is challenged and renewed. He emphasized the importance of term limits in ensuring renewal and preventing any individual from becoming indispensable. He also drew a comparison to IOC president Thomas Bach, who turned down a similar opportunity to extend his tenure, arguing that his organization was better served by a change in leadership.
Scrapping term limits, paired with stricter eligibility criteria for candidates, creates an environment where the path for the incumbent president to retain power indefinitely appears open. While the FIA frames the decision as strengthening governance and establishing a clear long-term vision, concerns continue to grow across the paddock regarding the potential impact on internal democratic processes.