Carlos Sainz believes it will not be easy to unseat current FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem. The father of the Williams F1 driver, himself a World Rally Champion and multiple Dakar Rally winner, confirmed in Spain that he is considering running for the presidency of the federation.
“I’m considering it,” Sainz said in Barcelona. “I’m looking into what it would mean to be president of the FIA. It’s a very respected institution, and many people are encouraging me, even though I’m only considering it for now.”
Recent reports suggested that Ben Sulayem was altering the FIA statutes to make it more difficult for potential candidates like Sainz to assemble a full leadership team. The FIA boss denied that claim in Monaco: “Let him run. That’s democracy.”
A newly emerged letter—reportedly signed by Fabiana, the wife of Bernie Ecclestone and the FIA’s vice president for sport in South America—praising Ben Sulayem’s “extraordinary” work suggests the current president has significant backing.
The letter was signed by three dozen FIA-affiliated clubs in North and South America: “We understand that four years is a short period to complete the ambitious reforms you have launched,” the letter to Ben Sulayem states, according to Arab News.
“That is why we strongly encourage you to run for re-election at the next General Assembly, so you can continue the important work you have begun, with our full support.”
It is worth noting that Ben Sulayem’s stated priorities included rewriting Formula 1’s sporting regulations in the wake of the 2021 Abu Dhabi scandal—a task that has not even begun—and reviving the WRC.
The World Rally Championship has reversed its own regulatory direction and still has only two officially committed manufacturers, plus one semi-official entry. The rally commission is working on future regulations, but Ben Sulayem has not mentioned it even once.
In this climate, Sainz is already sounding cautious: “It’s not easy, because the current president is running for re-election and things are always better managed from within. In any case, I haven’t said yes or no yet.”
Asked whether he could combine the FIA presidency with racing in the Dakar, Sainz Sr. responded: “I don’t think so. Competing in next year’s Dakar would be understandable, since the elections are in December and the rally is in January, but not beyond that.”
“If that happens, I would have to stop racing in the future. But I can’t say much more because I’m still working on it. I don’t yet have a team around me. There is someone I’d like to support, but it’s not the right time to say more.”
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