Governance of FIA designed for concentration of power
The governance system of the Federation Internationale de l’automobile (the governing body that regulates Formula 1) is not just vulnerable to concentration of power, it is designed in ways that make such concentration inevitable. In ‘Power without brakes. An evaluation of FIA governance and the road to reform’, Arnout Geeraert of Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ finds that while the FIA has adopted broad formal features of modern governance, its institutional framework lacks the safeguards needed to prevent the concentration of power and ensure effective policies.
Across all four dimensions of the Sports Governance Observer (i.e., transparency, democracy, accountability, and societal responsibility) the FIA achieves only moderate scores. The results reveal a consistent pattern: the FIA has not institutionalised the mechanisms that distribute authority, enable independent oversight, or ensure meaningful participation.
Commissioned by , a group of former FIA members in favor of transparency and reform, led by Tim Mayer, this report assesses the governance of the FIA using the Sports Governance Observer (SGO) benchmark. The analysis combines quantitative SGO indicators with qualitative insights. The report also suggests ways to reform FIA.
Arnout Geeraert is Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ’s expert on Good Governance in Sports.
More information
Would you like to know more, please download the full report ‘Power without brakes. An evaluation of FIA governance and the road to reform’ or contact Arnout Geeraert: a.geeraert@uu.nl.