FIA President Laura Villars, young candidate rises

The FIA could soon witness something entirely new in its history. A very young woman, Swiss-born Laura Villars, is reportedly a candidate for the upcoming FIA president elections. She would thus challenge the current president Ben Sulayem and Tim Meyer. The 1997-born candidate is focusing her campaign on transparency, democracy, and above all, giving proper importance to women in motorsport.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that someone so young aims to take on a significant role in this field. Especially in a world where new generations are making their presence felt. But Laura is no stranger to motorsport. She has competed in the Arab Formula 4, the Ferrari Challenge Europe, and is currently racing in the LMP2 championship with Team Virage.

Her words conveyed a very clear message, aimed at improving a system that, according to some, appears somewhat stagnant and rooted in outdated ideas. “The FIA must return to being the federation of the clubs and license holders,” explained Laura Villars. “My ambition is to create a more democratic, more transparent, more accountable governance, one that is open to women and the younger generations. I firmly believe that motorsport needs diversity and innovation to continue inspiring young people across the globe.”

What are the responsibilities of the FIA President?

The President of the FIA holds a key role in both the world of motorsport and global mobility. Their main function is to lead the organization that governs major international motorsport competitions. Including Formula 1, WRC, WEC, Formula E, and many other categories.

In addition to overseeing the sporting side of things, the FIA President is responsible for defining and approving the technical and sporting regulations that govern the races. He ensures they take place under conditions of fairness, safety, and compliance with international standards. Another key duty involves promoting road safety and environmental sustainability, areas in which the FIA leads numerous projects and campaigns in collaboration with governments and organizations.

Election dates for Laura Villars

The elections will be held next December 12th in Uzbekistan, with Ben Sulayem, Tim Mayer running also for the presidency. Among the candidates, Carlos Sainz Sr., father of F1 driver Carlos Sainz Jr. and currently with Williams—was also in the race for a period, but he later withdrew for reasons not clearly explained. At the moment, the outgoing president Ben Sulayem appears to be leading in early exit polls and enjoys the broadest support.