FIA urges neutrality after Mayer launches presidency bid

Motor sport’s ruling body the FIA on Saturday insisted it would remain impartial after American Tim Mayer launched a potentially acrimonious challenge to incumbent president Mohammed Ben Sulayem in December’s election.

Mayer launched his campaign Friday at Silverstone, ahead of the British Grand Prix, with an attack on the controversial Ben Sulayem.  

“The FIA Presidential election is a structured and democratic process, to ensure fairness, transparency, and integrity at every stage. It is conducted in accordance with the FIA Statutes,” said the FIA statement.

“In line with the FIA’s commitment to impartiality and to preserve equal treatment of candidates, FIA staff members are required to maintain strict neutrality throughout the process. 

“The Federation will continue to operate as normal, delivering on its responsibilities to its Members and across all areas of motor sport and mobility.”

The election will take place during the FIA General Assemblies on December 12.

The statement followed Mayer’s attack on Ben Sulayem’s time in office. The American said the president had delivered on none of his promises and had gone “in completely the other direction”.

“We have the illusion of integrity and what we’ve seen is wave after wave of statute changes, which are designed to concentrate power in one office, which is the exact opposite of what he promised.”

Mayer added that he would reverse the statute changes. He said the sport’s two World Council “have been gagged and are not able to represent the people who elected them”.

Mayer, 59, the son of former McLaren boss Tim Mayer, is an experienced motor racing official who was dismissed as a Formula One steward last year in a text message sent by an assistant of Ben Sulayem. 

He launched his ‘FIA Forward’ campaign on Friday and was given a warm welcome by most F1 team bosses. 

“I like Tim,” said compatriot and McLaren chief Zak Brown. “And he’s got some family history with McLaren.

Aston Martin’s Andy Cowell also pointed to Mayer’s Formula One heritage.

“Racing is in his blood,” Cowell said.