Introducing glamorous racing driver Laura Villars, aiming to disrupt Formula One by aspiring to become the first woman elected as FIA president
Swiss Racing Driver Laura Villars Challenges Mohammed Ben Sulayem for FIA Presidency
In a historic move, 28-year-old Swiss racing driver Laura Villars has announced her bid to challenge Dubai-born FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem in the upcoming presidential election on December 12 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Villars, who finished fifth in her first full-time Ultimate Cup Series F3R season in 2023, has outlined her ambition for a more democratic, transparent, responsible, and inclusive FIA governance. She believes that motorsport needs diversity and innovation to inspire younger generations.
The racing driver, who has been involved with Ferrari in the past, taking part in the Ferrari Challenge Europe Championship in 2024, highlighted five key points in her candidacy. These include sustainability, women in motorsport, and a call for a more democratic and responsible FIA.
Villars' announcement comes after a series of hiring and firings under President Sulayem. The controversial president has axed the FIA's chief executive officer Natalie Robyn, F1 race director Niels Wittich, senior F1 steward Tim Mayer, and deputy Formula 2 race director Janette Tan, among others.
Former Steward Mayer, who announced his candidacy for the FIA presidency last December, took a swipe at President Sulayem, stating that the FIA is suffering from a "corrosive concentration of power". This sentiment was echoed by Mercedes driver George Russell, who slammed the FIA's "unstable" leadership in April.
Max Verstappen, another high-profile figure in motorsport, stated in Saudi Arabia this season that he felt he had been gagged by the FIA, having been punished for swearing in press conferences. The FIA's head of diversity Sara Mariani, head of compliance Paolo Basarri, the head of the audit committee Bertrand Badre, and committee member Tom Purves were also sacked by President Sulayem in the past year.
Robert Reid, the former rally co-driver and deputy of Sulayem, resigned from his post earlier this year.
Laura Villars, who started out in motorsport at the age of 14, racing across international sports car racing series, is currently competing in the Ligier European Series JS P4. She is also an entrepreneur and has been featured in fashion magazines like Elle and L'Officiel.
The FIA presidential election will take place during the General Assembly on December 12 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. If Villars wins, she will become the first woman in FIA history to hold the presidency.
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