Former Miss Belgium Virginie Philippot runs for FIA President, eyes Formula 1 leadership

Virginie Philippot, who was once Miss Belgium and a reality TV star, has announced that she will run for the FIA Presidency against the current president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. The FIA election will be held on December 12 this year, and Philippot has become the fourth person to officially join the race.

She will be competing with Mohammed Ben Sulayem, American candidate Tim Mayer, and Swiss candidate Laura Villars for the top job that controls Formula 1 and global motorsport. Mohammed Ben Sulayem first became FIA President in 2021 and is now asking for a second term. During his time, he helped Formula 1 grow in the United States, including adding big races in Miami and Las Vegas, as reported by The Mirror.

Virginie Philippot background and career

Even though he made big moves, Ben Sulayem has faced a lot of criticism. Rival candidate Tim Mayer accused him of “failing in leadership.” Virginie Philippot is now 33 years old. She was a contestant in Miss Belgium in 2012, later represented Belgium in Miss International 2017, and also appeared on the TV reality show “Secret Story.”


After her pageant and TV career, Philippot moved into motorsport and became a journalist. She has covered Formula 1 and the World Endurance Championship. While announcing her campaign, she said, "I'm running for the Presidency of the FIA. Not to be the ‘first’ but to make sure I'm not the last", as stated by The Mirror.

She also said, "I believe motorsport should reflect the real world, bold, diverse, and united. As a woman with a global vision and deep roots, I'm here to open doors that have stayed closed for too long." She added, "Let's build a FIA that's truly inclusive for every voice, every story, every passion. The race for the future starts now."

FIA election fight and leadership debate

Earlier this year, Tim Mayer claimed that FIA employees deserved leadership that gave them tools, vision, and resources, instead of what he called a “reign of terror.” Ben Sulayem responded to this by saying he just laughed at the comments. He told Reuters, "I just laughed. I actually had a smile. I said whoever is saying this, they are disconnected with the FIA. Honestly." He also said, "You go to the FIA and just enter and see. Sit with them, tell them it's just between you and them, and ask them the question. I think maybe he's confusing the period."

Later, speaking to The Race, Ben Sulayem explained that he would not badmouth his rivals during the FIA election campaign. He said, "At the time of elections, we say a tongue has no bones. They can say whatever they feel if that's the way to get them electoral votes." He finished by saying, "But let me ask you a question, have you ever read any article where I mentioned someone in a bad way? No. Thank you. That's not my style", as stated by The Mirror report.

FAQs

Q1. Who is Virginie Philippot in the FIA election?

Virginie Philippot is a former Miss Belgium and motorsport journalist who is running for FIA President in 2025.

Q2. When will the FIA Presidential election take place?

The FIA election will be held on December 12, 2025, to decide the next President.