Ben Sulayem seeks to scrap FIA officeholder age limit

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is reportedly seeking to abolish the age restriction for senior officeholders, which currently bars anyone over 75 from standing as part of a presidential team. The proposal is due to go before the FIA General Assembly next month, and would take effect only if the assembly votes in favour.

The age limit was set at 70 in 2023 and raised to 75 in 2024. Ben Sulayem, who is 65, was re-elected unopposed for a second four-year term in December last year. The proposal comes six months after he scrapped the four-year term limits for senior positions across the organisation.

An FIA spokesperson defended the change, saying an age limit excludes candidates solely on their date of birth, regardless of experience or expertise. The spokesperson added that the competent FIA bodies would retain full authority to elect the officeholders they deem appropriate.