American candidate Tim Mayer confirms he's running against FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem

WHITTLEBURY, England (AP) — American ex- Formula 1 race steward Tim Mayer confirmed his candidacy for the presidency of the sport's governing body on Friday, claiming that incumbent Mohammed Ben Sulayem has clashed with star drivers and failed to deliver on promises of reform.

Mayer says he'll make the FIA more democratic, arguing that Ben Sulayem has amassed too much power and spent his time quarreling about F1 drivers' conduct.

“We’ve got major world championships where he’s fighting with, or certainly not working with, the stars of our sport,” Mayer told The Associated Press.

Mayer acknowledged that his key promises — more transparency and more resources to develop grassroots auto racing outside of wealthy countries — are similar to Ben Sulayem's own pledges when he was elected in 2021.

Mayer says Ben Sulayem hasn't delivered and accused him of creating an environment where staff are pushed out if they disagree.

“We’ve seen it time and time again,” Mayer told the AP, speaking near Silverstone ahead of the British Grand Prix. "He’s hired senior leadership. He’s said, ‘OK, I’m going to let you do your job.’ And then he’s fired them."

The AP asked the FIA for a response from Ben Sulayem.

Mayer himself has said he was asked to step down as an F1 steward last year after Ben Sulayem objected to his role in an appeal filed by the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, in relation to an FIA fine. Mayer said Friday his candidacy was “not about revenge”.

FIA rules make it a daunting task to organize an opposition campaign. Mayer will need to travel the globe chasing the votes of 245 member clubs in 149 countries ahead of the Dec. 12 election. He isn't allowed to run for president on his own, but must assemble a lengthy list of candidates for other posts from various regions of the world.

Mayer is the son of McLaren team co-founder Teddy Mayer. He has held senior roles in U.S. racing series and was a long-time F1 steward until last year.

Ben Sulayem, a former rally driver, has faced criticism over his management before. In April, Robert Reid resigned as FIA deputy president for sport in protest against how the organization is run.

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Tim Mayer, the son of former McLaren team principal Teddy Mayer addresses the media after announcing that he is running for the presidency of motorsport's governing body the FIA in December's election, in Whittlebury Park, England, Friday, July 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Tim Mayer, the son of former McLaren team principal Teddy Mayer addresses the media after announcing that he is running for the presidency of motorsport's governing body the FIA in December's election, in Whittlebury Park, England, Friday, July 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Tim Mayer, the son of former McLaren team principal Teddy Mayer addresses the media after announcing that he is running for the presidency of motorsport's governing body the FIA in December's election, in Whittlebury Park, England, Friday, July 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Tim Mayer, the son of former McLaren team principal Teddy Mayer addresses the media after announcing that he is running for the presidency of motorsport's governing body the FIA in December's election, in Whittlebury Park, England, Friday, July 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

ADELBODEN, Switzerland (AP) — The big surprise of the World Cup slalom season scored his second win Sunday adding to his fast-rising reputation before the Winter Olympics.

Paco Rassat raced to the fastest time in the second run to rise from fourth place, and push two Norwegians down the podium steps after they had been fastest in the morning run.

United States-born Atle Lie McGrath was edged out by 0.18 seconds and first-run leader Henrik Kristoffersen dropped to third, trailing 0.20 behind Rassat.

The 27-year-old Frenchman had a career-best result of ninth in World Cup races before this Olympic season started.

Rassat now has two wins, a third place and two sixth places this season and shapes as a medal contender for the Milano Cortina Olympics. The men’s slalom is on Feb. 16 at Bormio.

“To win on this crazy hill at Adelboden, It’s something really unbelievable," Rassat told Swiss broadcaster RTS, describing his season as “a magnificent surprise.”

Rassat also took the lead in the seasonlong World Cup slalom standings, ahead of his France teammate Clément Noël, the defending Olympic champion. Noël tied for eighth Sunday.

McGrath was runner-up in the Adelboden slalom for the third time in four years.

“It’s kind of crazy,” said McGrath, whose father Felix skied for the U.S. at the 1988 Calgary Olympics. “I’m of course super happy, it’s such a challenging slope and mentally it’s one of the toughest places to perform because of this amazing crowd.”

Another packed finish-area crowd at Adelboden observed a minute’s silence before racing for the victims of the fatal fire in a bar in nearby Crans-Montana on New Year’s Day. Crans-Montana hosts men’s and women’s World Cup races in three weeks’ time.

The World Cup overall standings leader, four-time title holder Marco Odermatt, does not ski slalom and his huge lead was cut a little by Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, who placed fourth. Pinheiro Braathen was second to Odermatt in the classic giant slalom Saturday.

The men’s World Cup circuit stays in central Switzerland for the storied Lauberhorn meeting at Wengen, for a super-G on Friday, the classic downhill Saturday and a slalom Sunday.

AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing

Norway's Atle Lie McGrath reacts at the finish line during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Adelboden, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

Norway's Henrik Kristoffersen reacts at the finish line during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Adelboden, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

France's Paco Rassat speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Adelboden, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Giovanni Zenoni)

France's Paco Rassat reacts at the finish line during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Adelboden, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

Finland's Eduard Hallberg speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Adelboden, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

Norway's Atle Lie McGrath speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Adelboden, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Giovanni Zenoni)

Norway's Henrik Kristoffersen ahead of an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Adelboden, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

Norway's Henrik Kristoffersen speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Adelboden, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)