Sainz Sr. considering run for FIA president

Carlos Sainz Sr. has announced he is considering a run for the presidency of the FIA at this year’s elections.

The two-time world rally champion has continued to compete in the Dakar Rally and became its oldest winner in 2024 as he took victory with Audi. Now 63, Sainz -- father of Williams Formula 1 racer Carlos Sainz Jr. -- says he has been weighing up the possibility of putting himself forward as a candidate against current incumbent Mohammed Ben Sulayem, whose first term has been beset by controversy.

“There are plenty of reasons, but I have been driving for more than 40 years and this sport has given me everything,” Sainz told Motorsport.com. “This possibility [of being president] has been in my mind for some time now, not very deeply, but now I think it could be the right time in my career for me to take the step. I’m confident I can do a good job and put together an excellent team to give back to the sport part of what it has given me.

“I have accumulated a lot of experience in this sport throughout the years and I’m certain I can bring new and interesting things, to strengthen and develop the sport and the automobile world.”

Sainz says he is currently assessing how much support he is likely to receive from the motorsport community before potentially putting himself forward, and insists there would be no conflict of interest due to his son racing in Formula 1.

“I have my track record and people know me well enough to understand that this will not be an issue," he said. "Obviously, I will have to step down regarding my role with Carlos and his career but this is not an issue at all.

“He’s not a child anymore -- he has been in F1 for a decade now and we both know that if I go ahead with this project our relationship will change, of course. The FIA is a very serious entity and there will be no conflict.”

Sainz is the first potential candidate to publicly state interest in running for the presidency, with Ben Sulayem also yet to officially announce he will be seeking a second term. Ben Sulayem is widely expected to attempt to continue but has had to deal with a number of senior departures from the governing body since he took over at the end of 2021, and the FIA has faced criticism relating to its practices under his leadership from multiple figures who have left.