Virginie Philippot has entered the race to become the next FIA president, pitching herself as the reform candidate in a December election that’s quickly turning into a genuine contest for motorsport’s top job.
The 33-year-old former journalist and motorsport presenter announced her bid on Tuesday, becoming the fourth name on the ballot alongside incumbent Mohammed Ben Sulayem, American administrator Tim Mayer, and Laura Villars. In an interview with PlanetF1.com, Philippot said she wants the FIA to “dare to innovate,” arguing the governing body can’t keep following the same playbook if it wants to stay relevant across motorsport and mobility.
“I offer something truly new,” she said, pointing to her background and the significance of her candidacy as a woman of color in a role that’s been historically male. Her message is clear: fresh perspective, modern tools, and a willingness to bridge gaps rather than police them.
Philippot’s platform leans heavily on outreach and modernization. She talks about rebuilding how the FIA communicates with its member clubs and the wider public, applying sharper leadership without smothering local autonomy. Listen first, decide firmly later — that’s how she frames her style. It’s intentionally pragmatic, designed to appeal to clubs that want more support without more bureaucracy.
Safety remains a core pillar. The FIA’s record in improving safety both in competition and on the road is something Philippot wants to double down on, but with a contemporary twist: digital education, coordinated campaigns with governments and NGOs, and programs that embed safe driving as a cultural norm rather than a box-ticking regulation. It’s the kind of language that plays well beyond the paddock — and that matters, because the FIA’s remit is much larger than Formula 1.
On sustainability, Philippot takes an “all-of-the-above” approach. Hydrogen, sustainable fuels, electrification — she puts them on the same footing, arguing the FIA should lead and enable innovation rather than back a single winner too early. That stance is likely to resonate with series and manufacturers trying to balance performance, cost, and political reality in 2025 and beyond.
But it’s her access agenda that will grab attention inside motorsport. Philippot wants to prise open what she calls the sport’s “closed doors,” widening pathways through scholarships, training programs, and partnerships with clubs in emerging regions. Diversity, she stresses, isn’t a slogan. It’s money, mentorship, and measurable opportunity — not only for women in leadership, but for engineers, mechanics, officials and decision-makers who’ve never had a clear route in.
The race itself has some sharp deadlines. Candidates must file their full “List” — the formal slate of supporters with representation from each region — by October 24. That’s a logistical mountain for any outsider and historically a fast way to separate credible campaigns from the rest. Philippot says her team is already in talks with several key clubs and that momentum, not the length of the runway, will decide this bid.
It’s a crowded field, and it’s already a landmark one. With Villars also running, this is the first FIA presidential election to feature multiple female candidates. Philippot acknowledges the symbolism but is determined not to be defined by it. Still, she’s blunt about what it could mean for those coming up behind her: if her campaign encourages even one young woman to believe leadership is possible in motorsport, she’ll consider that a win beyond the ballot.
For Formula 1 — the FIA’s highest-profile championship — the implications of December’s vote are far from academic. The next president will sit at the intersection of safety standards, sustainability roadmaps, and the development pipeline that keeps young talent moving toward the world stage. Teams will be watching how each candidate talks about regulatory clarity, technological direction, and the way the FIA intends to collaborate, not dictate.
Philippot’s candidacy, then, is both a statement and a bet: that the FIA’s future hinges on adapting its culture as much as its regulations. She’s selling reform with a calm hand rather than a flamethrower, and in a year when the sport is racing flat out on and off track, that might prove a savvy pitch. Now comes the hard part — turning a fresh narrative into votes before the clock hits October 24.
