Vowles supports bid of Sainz Sr to become FIA president

Williams team principal James Vowles has backed any potential FIA presidential campaign from Carlos Sainz Sr, stating that the two-time World Rally champion would be a ‘good fit’.

Father of current Williams Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz, Sainz Sr is mulling over the prospect of running against incumbent Mohammed Ben Sulayem for the FIA presidency – as first revealed by Autosport last week.

Detractors have claimed that any potential FIA election campaign from the 63-year-old might represent a conflict of interest, given that his son races at the premier level in F1, but this has been denied by the 2024 Dakar Rally winner.

Vowles agreed that it was unlikely, if Sainz was successful, that it would impact his son’s dealings in racing circles; he explained that the elder Sainz took a hands-off approach to his child’s career choices, and that any other impact could be “firewalled”.

“I don’t believe [it would create complications] if he were to be successful,” Vowles told select media including Autosport.

“First of all, Carlos has 40 years’ experience in this sport, and whenever you speak to him, if you have the occasion, have a chat with him. He’s got a really logical view on how the sport’s constructed and how he’s got to where he is at the moment, and what actually can help in and around it.

“What I’ve noticed with Carlos [Sr] here – and I’m not sure if that’s different to where it was before – is he recognises his son as his own man now and actually doesn’t interfere in anything.

“What he really enjoys doing is just watching the cars go around the track and know that that’s been him that’s put that together to allow it to happen.

“He obviously has to move away from that far more if he decides to go in the FIA direction, but I’m confident we can firewall it sufficiently that I don’t think it would be a problem.”

Vowles added that Sainz’s involvement and exposure to various forms of motorsport would set him apart as a potential presidential candidate.

The Spaniard will spend the next few weeks assessing if he has the support to stand against Ben Sulayem before formally declaring his bid for election.

“I think he would [be a good fit], simply because he’s got a couple of world championships to name, he’s got a breadth of motorsport, he understands single-seaters down into rallying, he’s been – I think – already president of some of the mobility bits inside Spain,” Vowles added.

“So this isn’t probably as big a step as some may think, but it’s up to him to decide whether or not it’s the direction he really wants to take.”