Carlos Sainz Sr. may run for FIA president, raising concerns in F1 over governance, neutrality and his son’s ongoing racing career.
The Formula 1 paddock is buzzing with talk about a potential shift in motorsport leadership, Carlos Sainz Sr. may be considering a run for FIA President.
But with his son, Carlos Sainz Jr., still racing in F1, questions around conflicts of interest are quickly surfacing.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur is treading carefully on the topic.
“I have a lot of respect for Carlos Senior, and for Carlos Junior too,” he said. “I’ve worked with Carlos Senior a few times in my career. But I don’t want to take a stance. It’s not my role to comment on the election. I respect him, but this is a separate matter.”
McLaren boss Andrea Stella also chose his words wisely, highlighting the sensitivity of the situation.
“To be honest, I don’t have much to say. It’s a complex issue with many layers,” he noted.
“What matters most is that we have a strong and transparent process — one that truly serves the best interests of the FIA and Formula 1. Good governance and solid leadership from the sport’s top institution are absolutely vital.”
Tim Goss, Racing Bulls’ technical director and a former FIA official, offered a unique perspective, having worked on both sides of the equation.
“From my experience at the FIA, I wasn’t really involved in presidential or Senate activities,” he explained.
“But I can say the governance team, under Nicolas, Tim Malyon, François Sicard and now Yann Monchaux, is doing excellent work. It’s a tough job, but they’re managing it well.”
Goss also emphasized the collaborative effort between the FIA and teams.
“They’re not operating in a vacuum. Yes, they need to push sometimes, but mostly, the focus is on working together.”
As for Sainz Sr.? “I don’t know him personally well enough to comment,” Goss admitted.
While the idea of a motorsport legend leading the FIA stirs intrigue, it’s clear that team principals are staying neutral, for now. The next steps will depend heavily on transparency, trust, and how any potential conflicts are addressed.
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