Carlos Sainz won the World Rally Championship drivers' title in 1990 and 1992 Rally legend Carlos Sainz has decided not to run for the presidency of motorsport's governing body the FIA in December's election. The 63-year-old, who said in May he was considering the idea, explained that "the present circumstances are not ideal to set the grounds for my candidacy". Sainz said ina statement on social media,externalthat he believed the FIA "still needs important changes, which I remain genuinely hopeful will be tackled in the upcoming years". He added that a campaign would interfere with his preparations for next year's Dakar Rally. Sainz won the Dakar for the fourth time in 2024 and will compete in the desert event in Saudi Arabia next January with Ford. His son - also named Carlos Sainz - drives for Williams in Formula 1. Sainz Snr said: "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." The only declared candidate for the election is the current president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, whose time in office has been beset by controversies. These involvechanges to the FIA statutes that appear to extend his control, along witha series of sackings of senior figureswithin the FIA, and for his involvement in a series of situations that have angered many in Formula 1, fromcommercial rights holder Liberty Mediatothe drivers. The FIA is currently the subject ofa lawsuit from Susie Wolff,the head of the F1 Academy for aspiring female drivers and wife of Mercedes motorsport head Toto Wolff.
'Circumstances not ideal' - Sainz rules out FIA presidency bid
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"Carlos Sainz Decides Against FIA Presidency Bid Citing Current Circumstances"
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TruthLens AI Summary
Carlos Sainz, the legendary rally driver and two-time World Rally Championship title holder, has announced that he will not pursue a candidacy for the presidency of the FIA in the upcoming December elections. The 63-year-old Spaniard, who had previously indicated in May that he was contemplating a run for the position, cited the 'present circumstances' as not being conducive to launching a proper campaign. In a statement shared on social media, Sainz expressed his belief that the FIA requires significant changes, which he hopes will be addressed in the future. However, he emphasized that entering the presidential race would detract from his focus on preparing for the Dakar Rally, an event he has won four times and is gearing up to compete in again next January in Saudi Arabia with Ford. Sainz's decision reflects a prioritization of his current commitments over a potential political role within motorsport governance.
The FIA presidency is currently contested solely by the incumbent, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who has faced considerable scrutiny and controversy during his tenure. Issues surrounding his leadership include amendments to the FIA statutes that seem to consolidate his authority, as well as a series of dismissals of senior officials within the organization. Additionally, his actions have sparked dissatisfaction among various stakeholders in Formula 1, including the sport's commercial rights holder Liberty Media and the drivers themselves. The FIA is also embroiled in a lawsuit initiated by Susie Wolff, who leads the F1 Academy aimed at fostering female talent in motorsports and is the spouse of Mercedes motorsport chief Toto Wolff. Sainz's withdrawal from the presidential race leaves the future of the FIA's leadership uncertain as it navigates these controversies and challenges.
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