Rally icon Carlos Sainz Sr has announced his decision not to pursue candidacy in the upcoming FIA presidential election. He cited “concerns” related to his ongoing rally commitments and stated that the “present circumstances” are not suitable for his campaign.
Reports in May indicated that Sainz Sr, father of Williams Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz, had garnered significant support among motorsport executives while he was considering a run for the presidency.
The current FIA president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, remains the sole declared candidate for the election scheduled for December 12 at the FIA general assembly in Uzbekistan.
In a statement shared on Instagram, Sainz Sr confirmed his decision: “Hi everyone, this message is to publicly confirm that I have finally decided not to run for the presidency of the FIA in this year`s election.”
He elaborated on his reasons: “I have worked hard these past months to understand in depth the situation at the FIA and the demands and complexities that come with such an important project. After a thoughtful reflection, I have come to the conclusion that the present circumstances are not ideal to set the grounds for my candidacy.”
Sainz Sr also emphasized the impact on his racing career: “Furthermore, I have realised that properly running for president would notably compromise my preparation for the Dakar and I do not wish to weaken my commitment to Ford and my team. These concerns have therefore inclined me to be realistic and desist from my FIA endeavour for now.”
Despite his withdrawal, Sainz Sr expressed gratitude for the support he received and reaffirmed his dedication to motorsport governance. “Despite stepping down from this race, my passion for serving and leading within the motorsport world hasn`t changed and I still believe the organisation needs important changes, which I remain genuinely hopeful will be tackled in the upcoming years,” he added.
He concluded by thanking supporters: “Finally, I want to sincerely thank you all for the messages of support, encouragement and advice I have received during the past weeks. They have reinforced my confidence to continue striving towards my present and future goals.”
Mohammed Ben Sulayem`s Presidency Faced Turbulence
Mohammed Ben Sulayem`s tenure as FIA president since December 2021 has been marked by controversy, although he intends to seek re-election.
The governing body has seen a notable turnover in senior staff. A prominent departure occurred in April when Deputy President for Sport, Robert Reid, resigned, reportedly due to concerns about the FIA`s governance direction under Ben Sulayem.
Earlier this month, Sara Mariani, the FIA`s head of sustainability, diversity, and inclusion, also left after her role was eliminated in a restructuring. Mariani commented publicly on the environment for women in leadership within the organization.
The restructure split Mariani`s previous responsibilities, with sustainability now overseen by Willem Groenewald and diversity and inclusion by Alessandra Malhame. The FIA stated the change followed a “period of review.”
Ben Sulayem has also drawn criticism for his stance on driver conduct, introducing stricter penalties for swearing and other misbehavior. He faced particular scrutiny from figures like Lewis Hamilton for using language perceived as stereotypical in discussions about team radio communications.
Marcus Prine