Carlos Sainz Sr. has introduced he’s contemplating a run for the presidency of the FIA at this yr’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 potential 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 all the pieces,” Sainz advised Motorsport.com. “This chance [of being president] has been in my thoughts for a while now, not very deeply, however now I feel it might be the proper time in my profession for me to take the step. I’m assured I can do an excellent job and put collectively a wonderful crew to provide again to the game a part of what it has given me.
“I’ve accrued lots of expertise on this sport all through the years and I’m sure I can convey new and attention-grabbing issues, to strengthen and develop the game and the auto world.”
Sainz says he’s at the moment assessing how a lot assist he’s more likely to obtain from the motorsport group earlier than doubtlessly placing himself ahead, and insists there can be no battle of curiosity as a result of his son racing in Components 1.
“I’ve my monitor report and other people know me effectively sufficient to know that this is not going to be a difficulty,” he stated. “Clearly, I should step down concerning 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 am going forward with this challenge our relationship will change, after all. The FIA is a really severe entity and there will probably be no battle.”
Sainz is the primary potential candidate to publicly state curiosity in working for the presidency, with Ben Sulayem additionally but to formally announce he will probably be searching for a second time period. Ben Sulayem is broadly anticipated to try to proceed however has needed to take care of quite a lot of senior departures from the governing physique since he took over on the finish of 2021, and the FIA has confronted criticism referring to its practices underneath his management from a number of figures who’ve left.
