Carlos Sainz Sr has officially stepped back from pursuing the FIA presidency, citing time constraints and a desire to prioritise his ongoing racing commitments, including preparation for the 2025 Dakar Rally.
The announcement, made via Instagram, follows weeks of speculation surrounding his potential candidacy. His interest in the role had sparked widespread debate, largely due to his son Carlos Sainz Jr’s raising concerns over a possible conflict of interest.
Carlos Sainz Sr abandons presidency bid
Carlos Sainz Sr. has taken to social media to confirm he will no longer be running for the FIA presidency this December.
In a statement on Instagram earlier today, the two-time World Rally Champion described the timing as “not ideal” and that a proper campaign would “notably compromise” his racing obligations, particularly the 2025 Dakar Rally.
Sainz, who had reportedly been considering running for several months now, had not yet officially launched a campaign. However, in May it that the Spaniard had been seriously considering the move and had begun speaking to key FIA stakeholders.
In his post, Sainz Sr emphasised the difficulty of balancing such a significant political undertaking with his ongoing commitment to motorsport, especially his role with Ford’s Dakar team. “These concerns have therefore inclined me to be realistic and desist from my FIA endeavour for now,” he wrote.
While he claims his passion for governance and motorsport “hasn’t changed,” Sainz acknowledged the demands of the role would likely encroach on his racing career. He expressed continued interest in the future of the sport and in “improving mobility for road users around the world.”
Ties to Sainz Jr Sparked Debate
The argument amongst other parts of the grid being that having the father of a current F1 driver hold the most powerful position in motorsport governance would present an apparent conflict of interest.
While FIA rules do demand impartiality and the optics of such an appointment would likely have intensified scrutiny of decisions affecting the Formula 1 grid.
“Whoever knows my dad or knows me personally knows we would never do anything that would mean a conflict of interest,” said Carlos Sainz Jr to Sky Sports, defending his father’s move.
Sainz Sr did not directly address these concerns in his announcement, but he did reference the overwhelming amount of feedback he received during his consideration period. “Your messages of support, encouragement and advice… have reinforced my confidence,” he said, offering thanks to fans and colleagues.
What’s Next for the FIA?
Mohammed Ben Sulayem currently holds the presidency of the FIA. The next election is expected to take place in late 2025, although internal preparations have reportedly already begun. Sulayem currently stands unopposed for the role.
With Sainz Sr’s withdrawal, speculation will now turn to who could step in as a challenger to the incumbent.
Full statement from Carlos Sainz Sr
