With just three months to go until the elections to appoint the new head of the International Automobile Federation (FIA) – Formula One’s governing body – there will be a third challenger to current president Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s desired second term.
Ben Sulayem, who first took up the role in 2021, will be seeking re-election in Uzbekistan in December, but the incumbent head of the organisation is set to face late opposition after another candidate entered the race this week.
American motorsport official Tim Mayer had previously announced his decision to run against Ben Sulayem this summer, with the Dubai-born executive unopposed until July.
However, the storied organisation – which oversees all motorsport championships and related disciplines – could yet see its first female president, with two women now in the race against Ben Sulayem and Mayer.
Last week saw Swiss racing driver Laura Villars announce her candidacy, with the intention of opening up the sport in terms of gender equality and challenging men in the industry.
Days later, the 28-year-old’s bid has been joined by Belgian star Virginie Phillipot, with the 33-year-old stressing in her campaign launch announcement that she aims represent ‘the real world, bold, diverse and united’.
Former Miss Belgium Virginie Phillipot has announced her candidacy to become FIA president
Phillipot is the second woman in the race after Swiss racing designer Laura Villars announced her intention to run last month
Phillipot is a racing journalist and influencer, who also founded the charity Drive for Hope, which aims to support the education of orphans in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In the world of Formula One, Phillipot has also worked closely with Red Bull, as a presenter for their channels.
Phillipot’s media background stemmed from her earlier participation in beauty pageants as a former Miss Belgium in 2012, and a Miss International contestant in 2017.
The influencer also appeared on French reality show Secret Story that year, a series that plays on Big Brother’s format with the addition of each contestant having a secret they have to conceal from the other housemates.
Phillipot, participating under the name ‘Ginie’, was evicted on day 43 of the competition.
Announcing her candidacy on Instagram, Phillipot said: ‘I’m running for the presidency of the FIA. Not to be the “first”. But to make sure I’m not the last.
‘I believe motorsport should reflect the real world, bold, diverse, and united. As a woman with a global vision and deep roots, I’m here to open doors that have stayed closed for too long.
‘Let’s build a FIA that’s truly inclusive for every voice, every story, every passion. The race for the future starts now.’
The 33-year-old is a motorsport journalist and influencer who is a regular paddock presence
Phillipot has also worked with F1 constructor Red Bull as their presenter for a number of years
In her campaign announcement Phillipot has stressed that she aims to represent the real world
Like Phillipot, Villars has also placed the landmark of becoming the organisation’s first female president at the centre of her desire to win the role, but the former Formula 4 Saudi Arabia Championship star received backlash when she first announced her candidacy to due some criticising the content she shares on her Instagram.
Via her social media profile, Villars has shared pictures of herself wearing bikinis as part of both paid content and while travelling around the world, but in an interview with BILD upon the launch of her candidacy, she hit back at claims that she was not a serious prospect.
‘Do these people also have these doubts about my competitors?’ she asked. ‘No. I don’t want to comment further.
‘Why should it (impact my bid?) I am who I am. And I’m competing with a strong program. That’s what should count.’
In the press release announcing her candidacy, Villars shared her intentions to introduce a ‘FIA Eco-Performance’ program and to ‘enhance the Women in Motorsport program (Girls on Track, mentoring) and establish a FIA Young Leaders Academy’.
To be eligible in the elections, all candidates must formally submit their bid before October 24.
Although Ben Sulayem is considered the far-away front-runner to continue in his role, the 63-year-old’s tenure has not been without controversy.
Lewis Hamilton accused the president of introducing a ‘racial element’ to his criticism of drivers swearing over their radios, when he compared them to ‘rappers’ as part of his unpopular crackdown.
Villars has a strong racing background and has already shared a number of initiatives she will seek to launch if elected
But the 28-year-old has come under fire in some circles for sharing pictures in her bikini on social media
Current FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem was running unopposed until July of this year
Tim Mayer was the first to enter the race and has been outspoken on criticism of Ben Sulayem
George Russell and Max Verstappen were also among the stars unhappy with Ben Sulayem’s push to cut down swearing on team radios.
Ben Sulayem was cleared by the FIA’s ethics panel in March 2024 of meddling in two races – concerning the results of last year’s 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and allegedly withholding a safety certificate for the inaugural £500million Las Vegas showpiece later that year.
Asked at the time if he supported the former Middle Eastern rally champion, Hamilton replied that he had ‘never’ had his backing.
Mayer, Ben Sulayem’s would-be opponent has also not been shy about voicing his disapproval over the president, after he was sacked as leading steward last year after over a decade in the sport.
In April of this year, FIA’s deputy president for sport resigned from his role after a ‘breakdown in governance standards’ which he appeared to place at Ben Sulayem’s feet, while Motorsport UK chair David Richards recently accused the organisation of experiencing ‘a shift in moral compass’.
