Carlos Sainz Snr. has confirmed his interest in challenging Mohammed Ben Sulayem for the FIA presidency. Earlier this week, sources close to the rally driver reported that he had been approached by several key figures in the motorsport world for a candidacy, but the four-time Dakar winner now confirms this himself. ‘It’s the right time in my career to take this step,’ says the Madrid native.
On Wednesday, British Autosport reported that Carlos Sainz Sr. was considering challenging Mohammed Ben Sulayem for the FIA presidency, but the Spanish rally driver has now confirmed this himself. The four-time Dakar winner and father of Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz is currently the only challenger to the controversial Emirati. Ben Sulayem has yet to confirm his own candidacy.
The rally driver says he has been considering a run for the FIA presidency for some time. “This possibility has been in my mind for a while, not very deeply, but now I think it could be the right time in my career to take this step,” Sainz Sr. tells Motorsport.com. The Spaniard hopes to give back to the motorsport that has given him so much as a potential FIA president. “I have gained a lot of experience in this sport over the years and I am sure I can bring new and interesting things to strengthen and develop the sport and the motorsport world.””Sainz’s candidacy is already being viewed as a good counterbalance to the controversial Ben Sulayem. The Emirati has long been under fire for his style of governance. Both (former) FIA members themselves, including the recently resigned Robert Reid, and the drivers have expressed their dissatisfaction with Ben Sulayem’s policy. Sainz, on the other hand, is seen as a ‘man of seriousness and integrity’, and a giant within the rally sport.
Potential Conflict of Interest?
The only thing that could potentially hinder the Spaniard’s candidacy is a potential conflict of interest. Sainz Sr.’s son, Carlos Sainz Jnr., is a driver for the Formula 1 team Williams. However, the Spaniard himself believes that this will not be a problem. “I have my track record and people know me well enough to understand that this will not be a problem,” Sainz explains.
“Of course, I will have to take a step back in terms of my role with Carlos and his career, but this is not a problem at all,” the Spaniard continues. “He is no longer a child, he has been in Formula 1 for ten years now and we both know that if I continue with this project, our relationship will naturally change. The FIA is a very serious entity and there will be no conflict of interest.”
