PARIS — The FIA, the international organization that oversees auto racing including Formula 1, has voted to eliminate term limits for its president and other top positions, potentially paving the way for current president Mohammed Ben Sulayem to stay in the role beyond what was previously allowed.
The FIA confirmed in an official statement that “term limits have been removed from FIA bodies” following an extraordinary general assemblies meeting held in Macao on Thursday.
Ben Sulayem first took office in 2021 and was re-elected without opposition in December for what had been the second of a maximum three four-year terms. Potential challengers had said restrictive election rules prevented them from getting on the ballot.
Despite the removal of term limits, a separate age restriction remains in place. Presidential candidates must be under 70 years old, which would effectively still cap Ben Sulayem at three terms — unless that rule is also changed down the road. The former rally driver from the United Arab Emirates will be 68 at the time of the next scheduled FIA elections in 2029. He has not publicly stated whether he plans to seek another term, and the elimination of term limits also applies to other senior leadership positions within the organization.
The original term limits were put in place following the contentious conclusion of Max Mosley’s 16-year presidency in 2009, which ended amid a clash with Formula 1 teams. Jean Todt subsequently served the full maximum of 12 years before Ben Sulayem won election in 2021.
Ben Sulayem’s time leading the FIA has not been without controversy, including tensions with Formula 1 drivers and significant turnover among FIA staff. However, the organization has also seen a financial rebound since the Covid pandemic under his watch.
The FIA announced Thursday that an operating profit of 6.7 million euros ($7.62 million) for 2025 represented “the strongest set of financial results in a decade.”
In a statement, Ben Sulayem said: “As we look ahead, we remain focused on creating new opportunities, increasing participation, advancing innovation, and ensuring the FIA continues to grow as a strong, sustainable and trusted federation for the future.”
