Carlos Sainz Sr. has introduced he’s contemplating a run for the presidency of the FIA at this 12 months’s elections.
The 2-time world rally champion has continued to compete within the Dakar Rally and have become its oldest winner in 2024 as he took victory with Audi. Now 63, Sainz — father of Williams Components 1 racer Carlos Sainz Jr. — says he has been weighing up the opportunity of placing himself ahead as a candidate towards present incumbent Mohammed Ben Sulayem, whose first time period has been beset by controversy.
“There are many causes, however I’ve been driving for greater than 40 years and this sport has given me every part,” Sainz instructed Motorsport.com. “This chance [of being president] has been in my thoughts for a while now, not very deeply, however now I believe it may very well be the proper time in my profession for me to take the step. I’m assured I can do job and put collectively a superb workforce to offer again to the game a part of what it has given me.
“I’ve gathered a variety of expertise on this sport all through the years and I’m sure I can carry new and attention-grabbing issues, to strengthen and develop the game and the car world.”
Sainz says he’s at the moment assessing how a lot help he’s more likely to obtain from the motorsport neighborhood earlier than doubtlessly placing himself ahead, and insists there could be no battle of curiosity on account of his son racing in Components 1.
“I’ve my observe file and folks know me properly sufficient to grasp that this won’t be a difficulty,” he mentioned. “Clearly, I should step down relating to my position with Carlos and his profession however this isn’t a difficulty in any respect.
“He’s not a baby anymore — he has been in F1 for a decade now and we each know that if I’m going forward with this mission our relationship will change, after all. The FIA is a really critical entity and there will likely be no battle.”
Sainz is the primary potential candidate to publicly state curiosity in operating for the presidency, with Ben Sulayem additionally but to formally announce he will likely be searching for a second time period. Ben Sulayem is extensively anticipated to aim to proceed however has needed to cope with a variety of senior departures from the governing physique since he took over on the finish of 2021, and the FIA has confronted criticism regarding its practices underneath his management from a number of figures who’ve left.
