TheFédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA; English:International Automobile Federation) is an international organisation with two primary functions surrounding use of theautomobile. Its mobility divisionadvocates the interests of motoring organisations, theautomotive industry and motor car users in the fields ofroad safety andtraffic circulation. The sport division is a governing body for many internationalmotorsport championships and disciplines, includingFormula One.
The FIA was formally established on 20 June 1904. It is headquartered at 8Place de la Concorde, Paris, with offices inGeneva,Valleiry andLondon. The FIA consists of 245 member organisations in 149 countries worldwide.[3] As of 2025[update], its president isMohammed Ben Sulayem.[4] The FIA is generally known by its French name or initials, even in non-French-speaking countries, but is occasionally rendered as International Automobile Federation.[5][6]
TheAssociation Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus (AIACR, English: 'International Association of Recognized Automobile Clubs') was founded in Paris on 20 June 1904, as an association of nationalmotor clubs. The association was designed to represent the interests of motor car users, as well as to oversee the burgeoning international motor sport scene.
In 1962, the FIA created theCommission Internationale de Karting (CIK, also CIK-FIA), to oversee the growingkarting discipline at international level, with a Nations Cup organised in the first year.[9]
In 1978,Jean-Marie Balestre begun his presidency of the CSI, and it was renamed toFédération Internationale du Sport Automobile (FISA), with the intention of creating a governing body for automobile motor sport with some autonomy from the rest of the FIA, which retained control of the karting commission, CIK. Balestre believed motor sport was not being managed well and wanted to professionalise and commercialise the sport, particularly in Formula One which led to a dispute with participants known as theFISA–FOCA war. Balestre later took presidency of the FIA in 1985, managing presidencies of both federations simultaneously. He lost the FISA presidency in 1991, and the FIA presidency in 1993, to Max Mosley on both occasions. It was clear to both Balestre and Mosley, and agreed by the FIA General Assembly upon proposition that there was no need for two federations, and subsequent to Mosley's FIA election, FISA was abolished in structural changes, bringing all motorsport under the control of the World Motor Sport Council.[10]
In 1998, amidst the European Commission investigation, the FIA moved its headquarters toGeneva, Switzerland, outside the jurisdiction of the commission. In 2001, the FIA moved back to Paris following the settlement however it retains its office in Geneva.
Also in 1998, the karting commission (CIK) gained some independence, becoming known as the Fédération Mondial de Karting (FMK, also known as FMK-FIA and distinct from separate organisations International Kart Federation andWorld Karting Association). However the Federation was short lived and in 2000, reverted to being known as the CIK.[11][12]
The FIA announced in 2022 the appointment of its first ever CEO, Natalie Robyn.[13] Robyn resigned the position after 18 months and as of August 2024[update] the position remains vacant.[14]
The General Assembly is the Federation's supreme governing body, consisting of representatives from each of the FIA's member associations. According to the FIA's website, the voting member associations can be automobile and touring clubs (mobility), or national sporting authorities (sport).[15] The website further states that there are 243 organisations spread among 147 countries.[16]
Meetings of the General Assembly are usually held once a year, though extraordinary meetings can be convened for urgent matters. The General Assembly has responsibility for amending the FIA's statutes and regulations, approving the annual budget and reports, deciding upon the membership, and electing the officers and members to the Federation's governing bodies.
The head of the FIA and chairman of the General Assembly is the President, a position held byMohammed bin Sulayem since 2021.[4] The President coordinates the activities of the Federation and proposes resolutions to the various commissions and committees and also acts as the representative of the FIA to external organisations. They are supported by two Deputy Presidents and several vice-presidents, each for Sport or Mobility, as well as the President of the FIA Senate. The combined presidency is elected to a four-year term by the General Assembly. Presidential candidates must produce anelectoral list consisting of their proposed Deputy Presidents, vice-presidents for Sport, and the President of the Senate, as well as demonstrate support from a number of member clubs.[17]
FIA Presidents
Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus (AIACR)
The FIA has two World Councils. The World Council for Automobile Mobility and Tourism (WCAMT) governs transport policy, road safety, tourism and environmental concerns. TheWorld Motor Sport Council (WMSC) regulates all sporting disciplines claimed by the FIA, and approves the regulations for each of the FIA's championships. Beneath the WMSC are a number of specialised commissions, which are either focused on individual championships, or general areas such as safety.[20]
The FIA Senate generally oversees financial and commercial affairs and general management of the FIA, and can take decisions required between meetings of the relevant committee or World Council.[21]
Sport and Mobility each have a Secretary General to head the administrative staff who function as intermediaries for the councils, commissions and committees. A Chief Administration Officer also heads areas supporting the Senate such as commercial, legal, marketing, events and financial.[22]
A number of commissions exist to further activities or aims within specific areas. Each may have their own presidency and could be broken down into further specific working groups. Individual members may be from member organisations joined by delegates and representatives from various professions or through a related connection such as being a motorsport competitor for example. Alongside the various Sporting and Mobility Commissions, the International Historical Commission exists for the preservation of historic vehicles.
Ten sports committees have been established by the World Motorsport Council to help manage and administer certain aspects of motorsport. An Ethics committee was also set up in 2012 by the General Assembly.[23]
The FIA's judicial bodies include the International Tribunal, which exercises disciplinary powers that are not dealt with by the meetingstewards, and the International Court of Appeal. The ICA is the final appeal tribunal for international motor sport, which resolves disputes brought before it by National Sporting Authorities worldwide, or by the President of the FIA. It can also settle non-sporting disputes brought by national motoring organisations affiliated to the FIA.[24]
The World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) has the decision-making responsibility for all motorsport the FIA governs and sanctions. It convenes at least three times a year to decide on rules and regulations proposed to it by the commissions and committees that have direct responsibility of the various disciplines and championships. The WMSC also discusses safety and development of motor sport and steers the commissions and committees through delegated tasks.[25][26] The council consists of the President of the FIA, the Deputy President for Sport and seven vice-presidents as nominated by the President; five members by right and fourteen further members approved by the General Assembly.
Alongside the Manufacturer's Committee, nine sporting committees report to the WMSC. The committees, shown below in bold, may have their own specialised commissions.
Single seater
Circuit Sport
Drag racing
Drifting
Truck racing
GT
Touring car
Electric and new energy championships
Esports
Historic motorsport
Road Sport
Rally
Cross-Country rally
Land speed records
Hill climb
Off-road
Sport Member Clubs
Volunteers and officials
Drivers
Sustainability and D&I
Sport, Environment & Sustainability
Sport Disability & Accessibility
Women in Motorsport
Homologation regulations
Technical & Safety
Circuits
Closed road
Medical
2022 ban of Russian and Belarusian teams and competitions
In response to the 2022Russian invasion of Ukraine, the FIA banned Russia and Belarus teams, and banned the holding of competitions in Russia or Belarus.[27] It also excluded Russian and Belarusian FIA members from their roles as elected officers or commission members, and banned FIA grants to Russian and Belarusian members.[27] Individual Russia and Belarus competitors were allowed to enter races as neutrals, without their national symbols, flags, colours and anthems.[28] The FIA cancelled the 2022 edition of theRussian Grand Prix inSochi, initially scheduled for 25 September.[29] The FIA also terminated the Russian contract to host the race.[30]
TheWorld Sportscar Championship was created in the1953 season, and was the first world championship forsports cars inendurance racing. The official name of the championship frequently varied throughout the period and from the 1962 season to the 1971 season the championship was officially known as theInternational Championship. The championship was solely for manufacturers up to the1981 season when a Drivers Championship title was introduced. From the 1953 season to the 1984 season, titles were awarded tomanufacturers of sports cars belonging to two main categories:sports prototypes (except for the 1978 to 1981 seasons) andGT cars (except for the 1953 to 1961 seasons and the 1982 season). From the 1985 season to the 1992 season, titles were awarded only toteams entering sports prototypes (instead ofmanufacturers of sports prototypes), excludingteams entering GT cars. After the1992 season the World Sportscar Championship was cancelled and dissolved, revived again in the2012 season under the new name as theFIA World Endurance Championship.
Starting in2022 season, the FIA andFIM jointly sanctioned theWorld Rally-Raid Championship. With theAmaury Sport Organization (ASO) acting as promotor and organiser; the separate cross-country rallying series sanctioned by the FIA and FIM were dissolved and merged into the new World Championship.
Key:Constructor/manufacturer = The person or corporate entity that owns the intellectual rights to the chassis and the engine of the car that a team/entrant enters into a competition.;[31]Team/entrant = The person or corporate entity that registers a car and driver for a competition, and is then responsible for preparing and maintaining that car for the duration of the competition.
^Organised by the AIACR (The Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus).
^The championship was officially cancelled in 1930, but in 1928–1930 no titles were awarded.
^The official name frequently varied throughout the period. In 1962–1971 as theInternational Championship. Revived in 2012 as theWorld Endurance Championship.
In 1913, the AIACR created the Carnet de Passages en Douane (CPD), allowing motorists to cross international borders into signatory territories for temporary periods without customs tariffs, duties or taxes payable on their personal vehicles. The CPD works like an insurance product, customs are guaranteed to be paid by the issuer if the vehicle does not leave the country within the specified time. Under the terms of the United Nations Customs Convention, only the FIA and theAlliance Internationale de Tourisme (AIT) may authorise carnet issuers.[32][33]
The FIA Foundation was established in 2001 as the FIA's charitable arm.[a][35] A registered charity in the United Kingdom, thefoundation received a US$300 million grant from the sale of Formula One's rights to fund research into road safety, the environmental impact of motoring, and to support sustainable motoring.TheMake Roads Safe campaign was set up in 2006 by the FIA Foundation, targeting the creation of safe roads across the world.[36]
Critics see it as a tool of themotor industry to increase the acceptability of car-based traffic solutions while blocking alternatives.[37]
Following the1994 San Marino Grand Prix, which saw the deaths ofAyrton Senna andRoland Ratzenberger, the FIA formed an Expert Advisory Safety Committee to research and improve safety in motor racing.[38][39] Chaired by Formula One medical chief ProfessorSid Watkins, the committee worked with theMotor Industry Research Association to strengthen the crash resistance of cars and the restraint systems and to improve drivers' personal safety.[39] The recommendations of the committee led to significantly more stringentcrash tests for racing vehicles, new safety standards for helmets and race suits, and the eventual introduction of theHANS device as compulsory in all international racing series.[40] The committee also worked on improving circuit safety. This led to a number of changes at motor racing circuits around the world, and the improvement of crash barriers and trackside medical procedures.
The FIA Institute for Motor Sport Safety was established in 2004 with the focus of improving safety in motor sport, bringing together the various safety research groups into one organisation.[38] It ceased prior to the 2017 motor sport season, with the Global Institute for Motor Sport Safety taking on its aims.[41][42]
The CSI determined the regulations and calendar of the major international championships, such as theFormula One World Championship,World Sportscar Championship andEuropean Rally Championship. Meanwhile, the organisers of the individual races (for example local or national clubs) were responsible for accepting entries, paying prize money, and the general running of each event.[43] In Formula One, this led to tension between the teams, which formed themselves into theFormula One Constructors Association (FOCA) founded in 1974, event organisers and the CSI. The FIA and CSI were largely amateur organisations,[44] and FOCA under the control ofBernie Ecclestone began to take charge of various aspects of organising the events, as well as setting terms with race organisers for the arrival of teams and the amount of prize money.[43] This led to the FIA President Prince Metternich attempting to reassert its authority by appointingJean-Marie Balestre as the head of the CSI in 1978, who promptly reformed the committee into the autonomous Fédération Internationale du Sport Automobile (FISA).[43]
Under Balestre's leadership FISA and the manufacturer-backed teams became involved in a dispute with FOCA (named the "FISA–FOCA war"). The conflict saw several races being cancelled or boycotted, and large-scale disagreement over the technical regulations and their enforcement. The dispute and theConcorde Agreement that was written to end it, would have significant ramifications for the FIA. The agreement led to FOCA acquiring commercial rights over Formula One, while FISA and the FIA would have control over sport's regulations. FOCA chief Bernie Ecclestone became an FIA Vice-president with control over promoting the FIA's World Championships, while FOCA legal advisor and formerMarch Engineering managerMax Mosley would end up becoming FISA President in 1991. Mosley succeeded Balestre as President of the FIA in 1993 and restructured the organisation, dissolving FISA and placing motor racing under the direct management of the FIA.[44]
During the 2000s, the FIA and its president became increasingly embroiled in controversy over Formula One, while facing threats from teams to establish a breakaway series. A grouping of the car manufacturers involved in F1, theGrand Prix Manufacturers Association, proposed anew world championship, which would allow them greater control over the regulations and revenue distribution.[45] A new Concorde Agreement eventually ended the threat, but the breakaway series would resurface during each dispute between the FIA, teams and the Formula One Group. The FIA's handling of the tyre situation at the2005 United States Grand Prix was criticised.[46] Mosley had refused any modification to the circuit or the holding of a non-championship event in place of the Grand Prix, having stated that running on an untested circuit was unsafe. The FIA also threatened to punish the teams who withdrew from the event, but later cleared the teams of any wrongdoing.[47]
In 2007 and 2008 the FIA was criticised on two issues. The2007 Formula One espionage controversy involved accusations against McLaren, who were accused of stealing technological secrets from Ferrari. Commenting on how the FIA handled the situation,Martin Brundle wrote a column inThe Sunday Times titled "Witch-hunt threatens to spoil world title race" in which he accused the FIA of a witch-hunt againstMcLaren.[48] The World Motor Sport Council responded by issuing awrit againstThe Sunday Times alleging libel.[49] Brundle responded by saying "I have earned the right to have an opinion", and suggested the writ was a "warning sign to other journalists".[50]
The FIA–FOTA dispute was a series of clashes between the FIA and the now defunct Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) over proposed changes to the rules and regulations for the 2010 Formula One season. The debate began over the introduction of a budget cap and escalated until the eve of the 2009 British Grand Prix with the FOTA teams announcing their intention to form their own rival breakaway series. The FIA in response began an entry process for new teams. From that point onwards, the dispute was negotiated to the point at which a new Concorde Agreement was signed in August 2009, with the budget cap replaced by a series of cost-cutting measures.[51]
TheCompetition Directorate of theEuropean Commission and the FIA were involved in a dispute over the commercial administration of motorsport during the 1990s. The Competition Commissioner,Karel Van Miert had received a number of complaints from television companies and motorsport promoters in 1997 that the FIA had been abusing its position as motorsport's governing body.[52] Van Miert's initial inquiry had not concluded by 1999,[53] which resulted in the FIA suing the European Commission, alleging that the delay was causing damaging uncertainty, and successfully receiving an apology from the Commission over the leaking of documents relating to the case.[54]Mario Monti took over as Commissioner in 1999, and theEuropean Commission opened a formal investigation into the FIA.[52] The Commission alleged a number of breaches ofEuropean competition law, centred around the FIA's administration of licences required to participate in motorsport and the control of television rights of the motorsport events it authorised.[52] In order to compete in events the FIA authorised, the competitor had to apply for a licence, which prohibited licensees from entering a series not controlled by the FIA. This provision, which also applied toracing circuits and promoters, prevented rival championships competing against the FIA championships by restricting their access to facilities, drivers, and vehicle manufacturers.[52] In addition, the FIA also claimed the television rights to all international motorsport events, which were then transferred toInternational Sportsworld Communicators, a company controlled by Ecclestone.[52] This meant organisers were forced into having their championships promoted by the same company that managed the affairs of other motorsport events, a potentialconflict of interest. The combination of these requirements meant Ecclestone'sFormula One Administration, which now controlled Formula One's commercial rights, was protected from competition from any rival championships.[52][53]
The investigation was closed in 2001 after the FIA and FOA agreed to a number of conditions.[55] In order to fairly regulate all international motorsport, the FIA agreed to limit its role to that of a sporting regulator, and would sell the commercial rights to its championships, including Formula One.[56] This was to prevent a conflict of interest between the FIA's regulatory role and any commercial advantages it may gain from the success of certain championships.[55] The FIA could no longer prevent non-FIA administered events from being established, neither could it use its powers to prevent competition to Formula One.[55] Ecclestone and FOA would no longer handle the commercial rights to other motorsport events outside of Formula One.[56] Ecclestone had sold the ISC company, which now only controlled the rights to rallying,[57] and would stand down from his role as an FIA Vice-president.[55] As a result of this ruling, the FIA sold the commercial rights to Formula One to the Formula One Group for 100 years for $360 million.[58]
In 2008, accusations surfaced in the British media that FIA president Max Mosley was involved in scandalous sexual behaviour.[59] In response, Mosley faced a leadership challenge in a vote of confidence at the June 2008 General Assembly. Mosley won the vote by 103 votes in support to 55 against,[60] resulting in the retention of Mosley as president. However he continued to face criticism from several motoring clubs and motorsport figures.[61][62] Germany'sADAC (the largest European FIA member), announced, "We view with regret and incredulity the FIA general assembly's decision in Paris, confirming Max Mosley in office as FIA president". It froze all its activities with the FIA until Mosley left office.[63]
^"World Motor Sport Council".Autosport. 26 July 2007. pp. 8–9.
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^"Administration".Federation Internationale de l'Automobile. 12 March 2012. Retrieved2 September 2022.
^"Ethics Committee".Federation Internationale de l'Automobile. 18 December 2012.Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved2 September 2022.
^"FIA Courts".Federation Internationale de l'Automobile. 12 March 2012.Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved2 September 2022.
^"World Motor Sport Council".Federation Internationale de l'Automobile. 12 March 2012. Retrieved1 September 2024.
^Frömmig, Lars (2023).Basic course race car technology: introduction to the interaction of tires, chassis, aerodynamics, differential locks and frame. Wiesbaden [Heidelberg]: Springer Vieweg.ISBN978-3-658-38470-8.
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