American Mayer announces candidacy for FIA president
The 59-year-old, who served as a Formula One steward until last year, is the son of former McLaren team principal Teddy Mayer.
"I believe I am the right person, at the right time, in the right place," Mayer told a press conference at a hotel near Silverstone, the British Grand Prix circuit.
He added that he had been working on his campaign for six months.
"What I see is a failure in leadership right now," he said.
"Instead of reform, we've seen performance. Behind the stagecraft, we've been left with the illusion of progress; and the illusion of leadership, while the most senior team he appointed has departed."
Mayer said last November he had been dismissed as a steward via text message by an assistant to Ben Sulayem. The FIA disputes that detail.
The American said standing was not an act of revenge but about driving the organisation forward -- with his campaign branded FIAforward.
There was no immediate response from the FIA.
Ben Sulayem, who has made much of returning the governing body to profit, has been a controversial figure since his election in 2021.
There have been battles with Liberty Media over commercial matters and accusations of sexism, and there has been a high turnover of senior staff.
Critics also say statute changes , approved by FIA members, limit the powers of audit and ethics committees and make it harder for rivals to stand against him.
Mayer described his bid as a Herculean task with the deck stacked in Ben Sulayem's favour, given recent statute changes, and only five months to campaign and win votes from member federations.
Mayer did not say who would be on his presidential list, a requirement for standing, which he admitted still had some open positions.
He said he had good support from Motorsport UK and had informed Stefano Domenicali, chief executive of Liberty Media-owned Formula One, of his plans.
"The job now is to go out and explain to lots of small clubs around the world ... why we can do a better job," said Mayer. "Explaining how we can bring value and restructure the FIA to do a better job.
"I do feel restructuring needs to happen."
Ben Sulayem has already announced he is seeking a second term and until Friday had no declared opponent, with Spain's double world rally champion Carlos Sainz Sr. recently deciding not to stand.
Mayer said he would have stood even if Sainz had decided to run. He also dismissed any suggestion of a conflict of interest regarding the historic family connection with McLaren.
The FIA is the governing body for F1, the world rally championship and Formula E among other series.
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