Sainz Sr ready to challenge Ben Sulayem: the race for the FIA presidency begins

Sainz Sr is seriously considering a bid for the FIA presidency: the confirmation comes directly from him

The FIA could soon witness a major leadership change: Carlos Sainz Sr has confirmed that he is seriously considering running for the presidency of the organization, potentially setting up a challenge against current president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. His term will end later this year, with elections scheduled for December 12 during the FIA General Assembly in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

The words of Sainz Sr and the current scenario

According to Autosport and later confirmed by Sainz Sr himself in an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com, the former rally world champion admitted that the idea of running for president is more concrete than ever: “There are many reasons, but I’ve been driving for over 40 years, and this sport has given me everything. This possibility has been on my mind for a while, not in a very deep way, but now I think it could be the right time in my career to take this step “.

When asked about a potential conflict of interest related to his son, Carlos Sainz Jr., the Spaniard responded clearly: “I have a track record, and people know me well enough to understand that this won’t be a problem. Of course, I will have to step aside when it comes to my role with Carlos and his career, but it’s absolutely not an issue “.

Sainz’s statements come at a particularly delicate time for the FIA. The growing discontent surrounding Ben Sulayem’s management could indeed favor the Spaniard’s candidacy. The current president has often been at the center of controversies that have sparked widespread criticism within motorsport. A striking example is the resignation of FIA Vice President Robert Reid, who stepped down from his position, citing a lack of integrity, transparency, and respect for decision-making procedures.

Photo: Carlos Sainz