Carlos Sainz Sr., father of Williams driver Carlos Sainz Jr, has decided not to run for the presidency of the FIA. The Spaniard had previously expressed interest in the position currently held by the controversial Mohammed Ben Sulayem. Several drivers voiced their support for his potential candidacy, but in a new statement, Sainz explains that the presidency is incompatible with his preparations for the Dakar Rally.
A few weeks ago, Carlos Sainz Sr. announced that he was considering running for the leadership of the FIA. The motorsport federation has repeatedly been in the spotlight in recent years, particularly due to controversial decisions by the current president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem. The 63-year-old Sainz felt compelled to intervene. However, after a period of trying to better understand the internal situation at the FIA, he has now officially withdrawn from the race.
Dakar Rally
“I have come to the conclusion that the current circumstances are not ideal for me to run,” Sainz said in a statement on social media. “I also realize that my candidacy would interfere with my preparations for the Dakar Rally – I want to stay involved with Ford and not weaken my team.” Sainz will be at the start of the world-famous rally again early next year. He has already won the Dakar four times and was the world champion in rally sport in 1990 and 1992.
Many experts, including people from the Formula 1 world, saw Carlos Sainz Sr. as an ideal candidate for the FIA presidency. However, questions were also raised about possible conflicts of interest, as his son will continue to compete in Formula 1 in the coming years. So far, Sainz was the only potential challenger to Ben Sulayem, who has already announced his candidacy for a second term. The presidential elections will take place on December 12, during the general assembly in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
