'Don't Want To Hear About Underwear': F1 Boss Offers New FIA Leadership Plan

Last Updated:September 01, 2025, 21:37 IST

Tim Mayer, FIA presidential candidate, vows a collaborative era after clashes under Mohammed Ben Sulayem, focusing on diversity, grassroots motorsport, and empowering women.

Max Verstappen with Kimi Antonelli (AFP)

The sole candidate poised to take over motorsport leadership has emphasized the need for a cultural shift following several notable conflicts between Formula One drivers and the current boss, Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

Tim Mayer, who is running for president of the FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile), expressed his desire to foster a new era of collaboration among officials, drivers, and teams in an interview with AFP.

“It’s not about power, it’s not about controversy, it’s not about ‘how do we control things?’. It’s about ‘how do we serve?’," Mayer stated during an exclusive interview at the Dutch Grand Prix.

Under Ben Sulayem’s leadership, the FIA has been embroiled in public disputes, including debates over whether drivers could use profanity over team radio and a high-profile 2022 argument about clothing.

Ben Sulayem’s insistence on strictly enforcing regulations regarding fire-retardant underwear and jewellery removal led to a clash with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. This controversy, dubbed the “underwear saga," drew criticism that Ben Sulayem was overly focused on minor issues instead of addressing more significant concerns within the sport.

“The fans really don’t want to hear about driver underwear," said Mayer, who is campaigning for the presidency in December. “There’s a straightforward way to handle that. You approach the drivers and explain that it’s for their own safety, asking them to comply quietly during the drivers’ meeting."

The 59-year-old Mayer, born in the United States and educated in Britain, has a deep-rooted connection to motorsport. As the son of Teddy Mayer, the former head of the McLaren racing team, he has been involved in motorsport administration for 35 years. Mayer pledged to adopt a more behind-the-scenes approach compared to Ben Sulayem if elected.

“The drivers are our stars, not the head of the FIA. Nobody ever bought a ticket to watch officials work," he quipped. Praising Formula One drivers’ skills as “nothing short of miraculous," he emphasized they should be treated as partners rather than children.

Mayer and Ben Sulayem had a public falling-out when the FIA dismissed the American from his steward role via text message in November. Mayer accused Ben Sulayem of governing the FIA with a “reign of terror" but maintained his campaign is not driven by personal grudges.

“I was angry for about two weeks," he conceded, later reflecting on his motivation for becoming a motorsport administrator. “For me, it was the opportunity to give back and help grow the organisation I’ve cherished for so many years."

However, Mayer criticised Ben Sulayem’s leadership for the high staff turnover, remarking, “They’ve hired some really good people and then they’re gone."

Mayer’s campaign focuses on grassroots motorsport and increasing diversity. Having recently returned from an eight-country tour of Africa, he is open to the idea of hosting a Grand Prix on the continent, though he acknowledged it won’t happen in the next 24 months. He noted that 1.4 billion people in Africa are largely excluded from open-wheel racing.

Drawing inspiration from sports like rugby and football, which have worked to shed their male-dominated images through prominent women’s competitions, Mayer said, “We’ve completely disenfranchised women and minorities from entering into motorsport," and vowed to promote women in the sport “not just symbolically." He stressed the importance of involving more women in engineering and changing the overall structure of the sport.

Confident about his chances in the December election, Mayer acknowledged the voting system favours the incumbent. He is currently travelling the world to garner support from member clubs while also listening to their concerns.

“We need to put our ears on and close our mouth a little bit more… the next decade of the FIA should be a celebration of motorsport mobility."

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First Published:

September 01, 2025, 21:37 IST

News sports 'Don't Want To Hear About Underwear': F1 Boss Offers New FIA Leadership Plan

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