Carlos Sainz Sr opts against FIA presidency bid

Carlos Sainz Sr has announced he will not run against Mohammed Ben Sulayem for the FIA presidency.

The two-time World Rally Championship champion had been considering putting his hat in the ring to contest Ben Sulayem in the election later this year – but has now confirmed he will not be a candidate.

Autosport broke the news in May that the Dakar winner, 63, was mulling over a campaign to topple the current leadership.

However, a letter signed by 36 race clubs came out in support of Ben Sulayem, whose reign as FIA president continues to be marred with controversy, the latest of which saw sustainability, diversity and inclusion director Sara Mariani made redundant last week.

Sainz pointed to the “present circumstances” not suiting a run against Ben Sulayem and the Spaniard also highlighted his ongoing Dakar commitments.

“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 posted in an open letter on social media.

“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.

“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 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 that will be tackled in the upcoming years.

“Both racing and mobility have been my life and I will closely follow future developments with great interest. I will always support my sport and try to contribute in all meaningful ways to improve mobility for road users around the world.

“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 and I’m truly grateful. Thank you. Carlos Sainz.”

As things stand, it looks as though Ben Sulayem will run uncontested as he seeks another term in the FIA hotseat since starting the role in 2021. 

He has been in the motorsport news lately for a number of controversial decisions, including overseeing a string of key figures leaving the governing body, barring FIA members from meetings and upsetting drivers by banning swearing.