FIA presidential candidate Tim Mayer has claimed that many figures within the Formula 1 paddock support his campaign but are afraid of potential retaliation from current president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
In an interview with The Race, Tim Mayer—recently announced as a candidate for the FIA presidency—explained that multiple individuals in the F1 paddock have expressed private support for him, but are unwilling to go public. Mayer emphasized that he must be very careful in how he protects these individuals, and said the feedback he’s received is that he is voicing concerns they themselves don’t feel safe enough to express.
According to Mayer, a climate of fear has developed around what he sees as potential abuses of power. He stated that he never believed fear should be part of an organization like the FIA, and finds it deeply troubling that such a dynamic exists today. Mayer added that several teams and individuals avoid speaking out due to fear of repercussions: he clarified that he was not referring to any specific individual, but said the general sentiment in the paddock was one of gratitude for his stance. Many reportedly told him, “Thank you for saying this, because I feel like if I said it, my team would be in trouble, whatever that means.”
Mayer, who was dismissed by Ben Sulayem via text message last year, has now formally confirmed his candidacy. He was once among Sulayem’s supporters, but decided to run in order to offer what he describes as an alternative to a style of leadership he calls “opaque, centered on one person, and full of unfulfilled promises.”
His campaign proposes a restructured FIA focused on balance, fairness, and service. Mayer emphasized that the FIA is not just the president—it is made up of thousands of people working across the world each day. He said it is time for the federation’s governance to reflect that reality.
The election will be held in December 2025, and it will represent the first major challenge to Ben Sulayem’s leadership since he was elected in 2021.
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