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Tim Mayer opened his campaign for the FIA presidency in combative fashion by accusing his election rival and the incumbent, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, of overseeing a “reign of terror” during his four years in charge.
Mayer, the son of the co-founder of the McLaren F1 team Teddy Mayer and a former longstanding FIA steward, with 15 years in the role in F1, maintains he was sacked at Ben Sulayem’s behest. He issued a withering assessment of the president’s tenure as he aired his platform for the vote, which will be held on 12 December.
“If you look at the number of people who have resigned from the FIA who have gone in with the best intentions but cannot effect change, or say ‘No this is a bad idea, Mr President’. It is a reign of terror,” he said. “You are wondering when the next scandal is.”
The 59-year-old American, who enjoyed a long career in motorsport organisation, gave a damning verdict on a highly controversial period of leadership by Ben Sulayem that has been publicly criticised by many in F1, including the drivers.
Ben Sulayem has presided over rifts with drivers and a string of high-profile departures from the sport’s governing body, including most recently the deputy president for sport, Robert Reid, who left citing a “breakdown of governance standards” in April, which Mayer also addressed.
“We have been left with illusion of progress and illusion of leadership while the most senior team he has appointed has departed,” Mayer said. “The illusion of inclusion, while capable voices, women and people from diverse backgrounds, were pushed out when they spoke out.
“We have had the illusion of transparency and engagement. And perhaps most corrosive, the illusion of integrity. We have witnessed wave after wave of statute amendments ushering in the greatest centralisation of power in the FIA’s history.”
Mayer left his role as an F1 steward last November, claiming that he had been let go by text message amid fallout from an issue relating to the United States GP in which he held a different role. He insisted revenge was not the reason for his candidacy.
The FIA structure heavily favours the incumbent against a challenger and Ben Sulayem recently received a letter of support from 36 member clubs, about which Mayer was also scathing.
“When a letter is shoved under your nose and you are told ‘sign this, or else’ anyone is going to sign it,” he said. “But the only vote that counts are in December, that process will still have full democracy.”
Ben Sulayem and the FIA have been contacted for comment.
On track, Silverstone basked in warm sunshine with huge numbers turning up for practice. They were rewarded in the first session when Lewis Hamilton, in his first run for Ferrari in the UK, topped the timesheets. He has won here a record nine times before, including a remarkable victory last year but with the Ferrari off the pace admitted that he was “hoping and praying” to make the podium.
He has yet to have a top-three finish since joining the Scuderia this season, the longest he has gone into a year without a trophy, but he at least opened well, just quicker than McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in second and third.
In the afternoon running Norris continued his run of form after his win at the last round in Austria, going quickest, two tenths clear of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Hamilton, with Piastri fourth and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in fifth.
The McLaren was expected to be strong through Silverstone’s sweeping high speed turns but Ferrari too will be pleased with their performance, suggesting the upgrades to the floor they brought to Austria have delivered a genuine step forward.
