Former leading F1 steward Tim Mayer has announced he will challenge Mohammed Ben Sulayem for the presidency of the FIA in December’s election.

Mayer, a long-time official in US motorsport and the son of McLaren co-founder Teddy, confirmed he had joined the race in a press conference near Silverstone on Friday morning ahead of this weekend’s British Grand Prix.

Launching his campaign, Mayer said: “It’s called FIA Forward because it’s time for new energy, new focus and renewed integrity at the heart of our federation.”

Mayer was an F1 steward for 15 years but last November said he had been sacked from the role by text message amid fallout from the United States GP when, in his separate role as alternate delegate for the grands prix in the USA, had led the Circuit of the Americas in a right of review hearing after it was fined €500,000, €350,000 of which was suspended until December 2026, after a track invasion by fans as the race finished.

Two-time World Rally champion Carlos Sainz Snr, the father of the Williams driver, last week announced last week that he would not be running having ultimately decided that “circumstances are not ideal to set the grounds for my candidacy”.

The FIA election takes place on December 12 at its general assembly in Uzbekistan, where the global member clubs of motorsport’s governing body will elect a president for the next four-year term.

Ben Sulaymen, himself a former rally driver, won the last election against Briton Graham Stoker in December 2021 after the long-serving Jean Todt stood down having reached the FIA’s three-term limit.

Sky Sports F1’s British GP schedule

Friday July 4
8.45am: F3 Practice
9.55am: F2 Practice
12pm: British GP Practice One (session starts at 12.30pm)
1.55pm: F3 Qualifying
2.50pm: F2 Qualifying
3.35pm: British GP Practice Two (session starts at 4pm)
5.15pm: The F1 Show

Saturday July 5
9.10am: F3 Sprint
11.15pm: British GP Practice Three (session starts at 11.30am)
1.10pm: F2 Sprint
2.15pm: British GP Qualifying build-up*
3pm: BRITISH GP QUALIFYING*
4.55pm: F4 Race 1
5.40pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook

Sunday July 6
8.15am: F4 Race 2
9.25am: F3 Feature Race
11am: F2 Feature Race
1.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: British GP build-up*
3pm: THE BRITISH GRAND PRIX*
5pm: Chequered Flag: British GP reaction*
6pm: Ted’s Notebook*

*also on Sky Sports Main Event

Next up in the 2025 Formula 1 season is the big one, the British Grand Prix at Silverstone – live on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Showcase with Sunday’s race at 3pm. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime.