Inside Laura Villars’ candidacy: at 28, the first woman to enter the race for the FIA presidency.
Image: Courtesy of Laura Villars / Instagram
In this interview, Villars speaks about her journey, what inspired her to run, and the proposals with which she seeks to transform the future of the FIA.
Swiss driver and entrepreneur Laura Villars has emerged as a rising figure in motorsport politics. Her candidacy for the presidency of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) not only challenges two established figures, current president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and American FIA former official Tim Mayer, but also opens a historic chapter: for the first time, a woman is running for the FIA’s top job.
Her entry into the race has already sparked debate about the FIA’s future, at a time when motorsport faces pressing questions of sustainability, transparency, technology, and global expansion.
LAB (Laura Álvarez Bard): Laura, taking this step at 28 shows both courage and conviction. Was there a defining moment in your career as a driver or entrepreneur that pushed you to embrace this new stage in leadership?
LV (Laura Villars): There wasn’t just one moment, but a series of experiences that led me here. I grew up in the FIA family, my family and I have been members of a mobility club for over 20 years, and I hold licenses with national sporting authorities. Motorsport has shaped my life as both a driver and entrepreneur. At 28, I saw an opportunity not just for myself but for the sport: to bring fresh energy, while building on tradition. And I am not stepping into this alone, I am surrounded by a highly experienced team that shares this vision.
LAB: Your candidacy breaks away from the traditional FIA profiles, as you are making history as the first woman to ever run for the presidency. How do you believe your youth and this historic first can contribute to shaping the future of motorsport and the FIA?
LV: I am fully aware that I am only 28, but I believe leadership today is less about daily administration and more about vision and long-term responsibility. Being young means I bring a different lens, more digital, more connected to new generations. Being the first woman to run is historic, but it’s not just about gender; it’s about opening the doors of motorsport to every community that has felt excluded. My candidacy itself is a signal that the FIA can be bold enough to embrace change.
Image: Laura Villars — James Cole/ The Good Life Inc. (via Instagram)
LAB: Your goal of “Zero Deaths by 2035” is ambitious and pioneering. Which technological advances or regulatory changes do you see as most crucial to achieving this vision while preserving the competitive spirit of motorsport?
LV: “Zero Deaths” is ambitious, but ambition is what drives progress. Technology is already helping us: connected vehicles, advanced data monitoring, and AI-driven track safety systems will make a huge difference. But it’s also about governance: harmonized global safety standards, and ensuring investment in infrastructure across all continents. The competitive spirit of motorsport will remain, safety enhances performance, it doesn’t kill it.
LAB: Carbon neutrality is an ambitious target for any sport. What key steps do you think will be decisive for Formula 1 and entry level categories to combine excitement with genuine sustainability?
LV: For Formula 1 and the grassroots categories, the key will be consistency: clear carbon reporting, investment in sustainable fuels, electrification where it makes sense, and eco-performance standards applied fairly to all championships. It’s not about slowing the sport down; it’s about innovating so that fans feel the same thrill while knowing motorsport is contributing positively to the planet.
LAB: You’ve mentioned initiatives like the Young Leaders Academy and reducing costs in entry-level categories. How do you envision these measures becoming a real pathway for young people from diverse backgrounds to reach international motorsport?
LV: The Young Leaders Academy and cost-reduction measures are not abstract ideas. They are designed to give talented drivers, engineers, and managers from all backgrounds the same chance to reach international motorsport. That means scholarships, transparent criteria for selection, and partnerships with clubs and governments to fund access at the national level. Motorsport cannot remain a privilege for a few, it must become a school of opportunity for many.
LAB: Last year, drivers such as Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc have asked for more clarity on fines and penalties, particularly how those funds are used. What mechanisms would you propose to ensure greater trust and transparency for clubs, drivers, and fans regarding FIA decision-making and the use of these resources?
LV: Drivers and fans are right to demand clarity. I would introduce a transparent reporting system where every euro of fines collected is published annually, with details on how it was reinvested whether in safety programs, grassroots development, or sustainability projects. Clubs, drivers, and fans deserve to know not just the rules, but also where their sport’s resources are going.
LAB: Your candidacy opens new ground within the FIA. How do you see yourself using this platform to create more opportunities for women not only in driving, but also in management, engineering, and leadership roles?
LV: My goal is not only to support women on track, but to build structures where they can thrive in management, engineering, and leadership. That means expanding mentoring programs, creating career accelerators in collaboration with manufacturers, and ensuring clubs have access to resources to recruit and promote women. We must move from symbolic initiatives to structural change.
LAB: The FIA oversees far more than Formula 1. How would you balance the immense attention F1 receives with the need to also strengthen rally, karting, and other disciplines so they can grow on a global scale?
LV: Formula 1 is a global flagship, but the FIA is far more than that. Rally, karting, endurance, regional and grassroots motorsport must be given the same strategic attention.
My presidency would ensure budget and visibility are balanced, with tailored growth plans for each discipline. We need F1’s global attention to trickle down, so the next world champion, engineer, or club president can emerge from karting in Africa, rallying in South America, or grassroots competitions in Asia.
Image: Laura Villars — James Cole/ The Good Life Inc. (via Instagram)