Ben Sulayem's FIA Future Expands as Term Limits Are Scrapped

The FIA has scrapped its 12-year presidential term limit after a supermajority vote in Macau, allowing Mohammed Ben Sulayem to potentially extend his leadership beyond his current second term. The reforms also tighten eligibility criteria for future challengers, raising immediate questions about whether the governing body is streamlining governance or consolidating power.

Why it matters:

Ben Sulayem, re-elected unopposed in late 2025, previously faced a hard ceiling after 12 years in office. With that cap removed and only the FIA's age limit of 70 remaining, the 64-year-old could now seek another term in 2029 and serve far longer than originally envisioned. Simultaneously raising the barrier for challengers risks narrowing the field of future candidates and centralizing authority around the incumbent.

The details:

• The statute changes apply across all FIA bodies and were approved by member clubs in Macau, framed as a move to standardize rules across institutions.
• Aspiring presidents must now demonstrate deeper FIA institutional experience to qualify for the ballot, and the former nominations committee has been rebranded the "eligibility assessment committee."
• The FIA insists the system remains fully democratic, emphasizing that member clubs retain ultimate authority to elect officeholders.

The big picture:

This is more than a bureaucratic tweak for an organization that oversees Formula 1. Ben Sulayem's tenure has already weathered internal controversies and governance disputes, and these changes place his long-term legacy under sharper scrutiny. The tension ahead is whether the FIA is trading rotational leadership for entrenched continuity.