FIA President Ben Sulayem Proposes Statute Changes to Consolidate Control Ahead of June Vote

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is proposing significant changes to the governing body's statutes that would consolidate his control ahead of the upcoming presidential election. The revisions, set to be voted on at the FIA General Assembly in June, include advancing the deadline for presidential candidates to submit their bids and granting Ben Sulayem the power to bar any candidate from running against him. The proposals also seek to give the president greater authority over the composition of the FIA Senate by allowing him to appoint the final members without consultation. Critics, including Motorsport UK Chair David Richards, have expressed concerns that these changes erode accountability and checks and balances, with some fearing the rules could be used to exclude certain candidates, such as Carlos Sainz Sr., due to vague criteria regarding candidates' professional integrity. Many within the FIA have remained silent on the matter due to non-disclosure agreements, but anonymous sources suggest the changes are a strategic consolidation of power disguised under moral and ethical pretenses. This move continues a pattern during Ben Sulayem's tenure, which has already seen resignations and legal threats over governance issues.