FIA, fair play, and Formula 1: In conversation with Laura Villars

Mrs Villars, you wanted to become President of the FIA - why now?

Because I believe motorsport stands at a crossroads. We are entering a new era where technology, society and culture are redefining what it means to race. I didn’t want to stand by and watch the sport I love risk losing its soul or its global purpose. The FIA needs renewal, fresh energy, transparency, and a deep sense of humanity. That’s why now.

What motivated you personally to run for this office?

My motivation came from both passion and responsibility. Passion, because I’ve grown up inside racing it shaped who I am. Responsibility, because I see how governance, equality and integrity can transform our sport for the next generation. Running for FIA President was not about power, but about purpose.

What does motorsport mean to you emotionally – as a racing driver, but also as a cultural phenomenon?

It’s emotion in motion. For me, motorsport is about courage, rhythm, intuition but also about connection. It’s a mirror of humanity: competition, progress, risk, glory, failure. It’s not just an engine sound it’s a heartbeat that unites millions.

What is your view of the scene, of the future of motorsport?

The scene is evolving fast and that’s beautiful. We see digital racing, sustainability challenges, new markets. But the future must not only be technological; it must be meaningful. Motorsport has to reconnect with society’s values, not escape from them.

What is your vision for motorsport? What could, should, must change?

In governance and culture. We need clear, fair systems but also empathy and imagination. Economically, we must protect accessibility. Technologically, we must lead innovation responsibly. Socially, we must open the doors to women, to youth, to every continent.

Where do you see the greatest need for action – in terms of sport, technology, economics, society?

In leadership and culture. We need clear, fair systems, but also empathy and imagination. Economically, we need to protect accessibility. Technologically, we need to drive innovation responsibly. Socially, we need to open doors to women, young people and all continents.

What role does the FIA play for you in this transformation process?

The FIA should be the bridge between passion and progress the guardian of the sport’s heritage, and the architect of its future. It must lead with ethics, science and empathy.

When did you catch the racing bug?

The first time I put on a helmet, I felt free. It wasn't just adrenaline, it was belonging. I was maybe ten or eleven years old, but I knew that this world would define my life.

What fascinates you – the driving, the speed, the competition, the technology?

The feeling of total presence. In the cockpit, everything disappears fear, noise, doubt. It’s pure instinct and flow. But beyond that, I love how technology and human skill dance together. It’s art, really.

Is there a moment or experience that has shaped your relationship with motorsport?

Yes my first podium in a car that everyone said I couldn’t handle. That moment taught me that limits are often social, not physical. It shaped my will to prove that resilience and talent have no gender.

How did you learn to assert yourself in a world that is traditionally male-dominated?

By not trying to be “one of the guys.” I stayed authentic feminine, analytical, determined. I learned that leadership is not about shouting louder, it’s about standing taller.

What evokes more emotion in motorsport today – the technology or the people?

Always the people. Technology moves us intellectually, but people move us emotionally. The story behind the wheel the struggle, the comeback that’s what creates legacy.

When does a race become truly magical?

When unpredictability meets emotion. When victory feels human, not manufactured.

Is Formula 1 still authentic for you or has it become too much of a show?

It’s both. Formula 1 is theatre and science, but it must remain rooted in authenticity in the art of racing, not only the art of marketing.

How much staging does authenticity need?

Just enough to inspire never to manipulate. Motorsport should be cinematic, but true.

Why is motorsport still important today, or especially today?

Because it embodies what humanity needs most: discipline, courage, progress, and unity. In a world full of division, racing reminds us that excellence is universal.

Can it help carry the idea of the automobile – freedom, progress, passion – into the future?

Yes, if we redefine freedom as responsibility. The automobile must evolve from ego to ecosystem. Motorsport can lead that cultural transformation.

How can Motorsport remain culturally relevant without betraying itself?

By remembering its roots: courage, innovation, human excellence. The world changes, but those values don’t.

Does motorsport need more attitude again – or more dreams?

Dreams because dreams create attitude. Without vision, speed is just noise.

What impetus can a female perspective bring to this world?

Empathy, intuition, collaboration. A different kind of power one that unites rather than dominates. Diversity doesn’t weaken performance; it refines it.

Is it about representation – or a different way of thinking and leading?

Both. Representation opens doors, but mindset changes the world.

How would you describe your style – in life and in driving?

Precise, elegant, bold. I like control but I love emotion.

What things inspire you? Music, art, books, fashion?

Yes I’m inspired by contrasts. I can listen to Hans Zimmer before a race, read philosophy on a flight, and get design ideas from haute couture. Creativity is fuel.

When do you feel most alive?

When I’m racing or creating something that didn’t exist before. Both are acts of freedom.

What would you like people to say about Formula 1 in ten years?

That it became more human, more open, more visionary and that it inspired the next generation to believe in possibility.

What would be your greatest achievement if you had become president?

That every young driver, engineer or official regardless of gender, geography or background could say: “Because she led, I believed I could.”