FIA president set for re-election after major rival withdraws from fight

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is expected to stand for re-election unopposed after challenger Tim Mayer announced he is dropping out of the race.

The American has been unable to garner the required support to formalise his bid to succeed the incumbent.

Mayer was the most viable and realistic option of the three expected candidates, with Laura Villars and Virginie Philipott also declaring their intention to challenge in recent weeks.

However, over that timeframe, it has also become apparent that it is virtually impossible for rivals to stand against the president, as they cannot meet the qualification requirements.

Mayer, who launched his candidacy in July, on the British Grand Prix weekend, had vowed to end Ben Sulayem's "reign of terror", but has now withdrawn.

The American has taken aim at the FIA in his press conference to announce his decision.

What is stopping Mayer?

As reported by RacingNews365 earlier in October, all challengers must compile what is called the presidential list by an upcoming deadline, on October 24th, and currently, there is no pathway for doing so.

Each candidate must submit their proposed team for positions at the top of the motorsport governing body, including: the president of the senate; the deputy president for automobile mobility and tourism; and the deputy president for sport.

Alongside the last individual, seven vice-presidents for sport must be confirmed. They must be taken from an FIA-approved list of candidates and must come from different regions.

That includes one from: Africa, the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East and North Africa, North America and South America, plus two more from Europe.

The FIA has released a list of 29 eligible candidates, all of whom have been approved to stand on the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC).

The sticking point is that, with only one name from South America approved — Brazil's Fabiana Ecclestone — it is now impossible for other candidates to surpass the threshold, as she is believed to be supporting Ben Sulayem.

Election rules dictate that any of those 29 names cannot appear on more than one presential list, blocking any route to candidacy for Mayer — and Villars and Philipott.