Oct.30 (GMM) The FIA has been hit by a major legal challenge ahead of December’s presidential election, with Swiss-French driver and entrepreneur Laura Villars filing a lawsuit in France claiming the organisation’s new voting system unfairly blocks challengers to incumbent Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
Villars, 28, has asked the Paris High Court to suspend the election scheduled for December 12 in Uzbekistan, arguing that recently amended regulations make it impossible for any opposing candidate to stand.
A preliminary hearing is set for November 10.
The rules, changed in June, require each candidate to present a list of seven vice-presidents representing all global FIA regions. However, there is only one eligible South American representative – Fabiana Ecclestone, wife of former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone – who has already declared her support for Ben Sulayem’s re-election bid.
“Under these conditions, no competing list could include a South American vice-president,” Villars said in her court filing, calling the process a “violation of the FIA’s principles of democracy and pluralism.”
“I am not acting against the FIA – I am acting to protect it,” Villars told AFP. “Democracy is not a threat to the FIA – it is its strength.”
Her lawyer, Robin Binsard, confirmed the emergency proceedings had been approved, saying the case highlights “serious democratic shortcomings within the FIA.”
Villars’ lawsuit follows similar concerns raised by Tim Mayer, a former FIA steward and son of McLaren co-founder Teddy Mayer, who withdrew from the race earlier this month. “The FIA’s process greatly favours the incumbent team,” he said.
“It’s a one-horse race – an illusion of democracy.”
According to RMC and AFP, the FIA has declined to comment, citing the ongoing legal process.
The governing body, which oversees Formula 1, is also facing a separate criminal complaint from Susie Wolff, head of the F1 Academy, over its handling of last year’s conflict-of-interest probe.
Join Grand Prix Tours in Austin, Texas for the high-energy 2026 United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. Experience nonstop action on one of Formula 1’s most exciting tracks, featuring dramatic elevation changes, thrilling overtakes, and a packed race weekend. Off the track, enjoy a festival atmosphere with live music, world-famous BBQ, and buzzing nightlife. Your Grand Prix Tours package includes a fully curated race weekend, highlighted by exclusive access to our private F1 Celebrity Talk Show, where guests gain insider insights and behind-the-scenes perspectives. With demand soaring and this event quickly becoming a modern American racing tradition, now is the time to secure your spot for an unforgettable Austin Grand Prix experience.
SHOW PACKAGES
There are motorsport events, and then there is the Indianapolis 500, the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing." Next year marks Grand Prix Tours' 42nd Indianapolis 500 tour and our decades of experience and local connections provide exclusive access that few fans ever enjoy, including police escorts on race day, a Dallara IndyCar Factory tour, Gasoline Alley and Legends Day, the Driver Introduction Ceremony, and a private dinner with former Indy driver Derek Daly. Combined with excellent hotel accommodations, seamless event planning, and Grand Prix Tours' signature service, this is far more than a race weekend; it's a once-in-a-lifetime motorsport experience. With tour spaces limited each year, we encourage you to reserve your place early for the 111th Indianapolis 500.
SHOW PACKAGES
Experience Formula 1 at its most iconic with an unforgettable trip to the 2027 Grand Prix de Monaco. Feel the excitement as the world’s best drivers race through the legendary streets of Monte Carlo, surrounded by superyachts, Mediterranean views, and the unmistakable glamour of Monaco. From incredible race viewing to carefully selected accommodations, Grand Prix Tours brings you closer to the action at one of the most prestigious and spectacular events in all of motorsport.
SHOW PACKAGES
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the ultimate test of speed, strategy, and endurance. Watch the world's top manufacturers battle for 24 nonstop hours in one of motorsport's most prestigious events. With Grand Prix Tours handling your accommodations, transfers, and ticket options, all that's left is to experience this unforgettable bucket-list race.
SHOW PACKAGES
Feel the roar of Formula 1 at its spiritual home. Silverstone is one of the fastest and most demanding circuits in the world, where brave overtakes, lightning-fast direction changes, and flat-out commitment separate the best from the rest. Combined with the electric atmosphere created by hundreds of thousands of passionate fans, the British Grand Prix delivers a race weekend unlike any other.
SHOW PACKAGES