Rally legend Carlos Sainz Sr is contemplating operating for president of the FIA, motorsport’s governing physique, in December’s election.
The 63-year-old two-time world champion advised motorsport.com, exterior he was “within the technique of determining how a lot assist I’ll get in the neighborhood of motorsport”.
Sainz – who can also be a four-time winner of the Dakar Rally, on which this yr he was nonetheless competing – could be operating in opposition to present FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, whose time period in workplace since 2021 has been beset by controversy.
Ben Sulayem has not but formally declared his intention to run once more, however is understood to be meaning to. No different potential candidate has but declared curiosity.
Sainz stated: “This risk has been in my thoughts for a while now, not very deeply, however now I believe it might be the proper time in my profession for me to take the step.
“I am assured I can do a superb job and put collectively a superb crew to provide again to the game a part of what it has given me.
“I’ve accrued quite a lot of expertise on this sport all through the years and I am sure I can deliver new and fascinating issues, to strengthen and develop the game and the auto world.”
Sainz is extensively thought to be a person of seriousness and integrity, in addition to unquestionably an all-time nice in his discipline. Sources say he’s a consequential candidate and would have widespread assist from inside the sport.
Sainz stated there could be no battle of curiosity with the truth that his son Carlos is an energetic F1 driver with Williams.
“I’ve my monitor file and folks know me effectively sufficient to grasp that this won’t be a difficulty,” Sainz stated. “Clearly, I should step down concerning my position with Carlos and his profession however this isn’t a difficulty in any respect.
“He is not a baby any extra, he has been in F1 for a decade now and we each know that if I’m going forward with this mission our relationship will change, in fact.
“The FIA is a really severe entity and there will likely be no battle.”
Ben Sulayem suffered a blow to his presidency with the resignation of his deputy president for sport, Robert Reid, final month.
Reid give up citing “a basic breakdown in governance requirements” inside the FIA.
On the day Reid introduced his resignation, the former FIA chief government officer Natalie Robyn broke the silence she had maintained since being compelled to resign final summer season after 18 months within the position.
Robyn advised BBC Sport the FIA had “severe ongoing structural challenges”, including that “skilled processes will not be adhered to and stakeholders are excluded from decision-making”.
Robyn’s departure got here after she raised questions concerning the common governance of the FIA and its skilled practices, together with funds within the president’s workplace.
Her departure was adopted by these of the pinnacle of the audit committee Bertrand Badre, a former head of the World Financial institution, and audit committee member Tom Purves, a former BMW government.
In November, Ben Sulayem fired FIA compliance officer Paolo Basarri, who in March final yr seemed into allegations that Ben Sulayem interfered within the operations of the Saudi Arabian and Las Vegas Grands Prix in 2023. Ben Sulayem was cleared following an investigation by the FIA’s ethics committee.
The FIA is presently the topic of authorized motion by Susie Wolff, the boss of the F1 Academy for aspiring feminine drivers, after a controversial battle of curiosity inquiry into her and her husband, Toto Wolff, the boss of Mercedes motorsport.
Senior FIA figures have additionally raised considerations about Ben Sulayem’s choice to vary the statutes of the governing physique final yr to scale back accountability.
And ultimately weekend’s Miami Grand Prix, Grand Prix Drivers’ Affiliation director George Russell referred to as for motion somewhat than phrases from the FIA on the controversy over censures for swearing and criticising the governing physique.
The FIA can also be but to clarify the circumstances behind the return to the organisation of former interim secretary common Shaila-Ann Rao, a bit over two years after she left the organisation following a troublesome relationship with Ben Sulayem.
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