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Newsweek
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
F1's Carlos Sainz Endorses His Father's Exit From FIA Presidential Campaign
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Williams Racing Formula One driver Carlos Sainz Jr. has backed his father Carlos Sainz Sr.'s decision not to enter the FIA presidential campaign this year. Sainz Sr. revealed that other commitments, including racing in the Dakar Rally, held him back from competing against current FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. Some of the F1 community looked forward to a change in the leadership of its governing body after Sainz Sr. said he was considering running for the position of FIA president. Now, Sainz Sr. has confirmed that he is abandoning the idea of entering the campaign. Sainz Jr. acknowledged that he supported his father's decision in his role as a son, but as a motorsport fan, the Spaniard held a different opinion. When asked by the media if he was disappointed to see his father step down, Sainz Jr. said: Carlos Sainz of Spain and Williams speaks in the media pen following his q1 exit during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve on June 14, 2025 in Montreal, Canada. Carlos Sainz of Spain and Williams speaks in the media pen following his q1 exit during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve on June 14, 2025 in Montreal, Canada."As his son, no. As a motorsport fan, yes. "I think many motorsport people would have liked to see my dad giving it a go and seeing what he could have done for the sport, but as his son, and after evaluating a bit also with him, all the things he had to get involved with and [would] have to take care of, to confirm and to have any possibility of running for that presidency, I think I understand why he's not doing it and why he's letting it go and focusing on his own stuff." However, he didn't rule out a future possibility of Sainz Sr. campaigning for the position of FIA president. Sainz Jr. added: "Never say never. I think the ideal time was now, given the state of the situation that everything is in, I think it was the ideal moment for him to go in and and try to have a positive effect. "I don't know if that will be ideal in four or eight years' time. I'll never say never, but right now, for sure, he's not interested anymore." Sainz Sr., who is a two-time World Rally Championship winner, said he didn't want to compromise his preparations for the Dakar Rally by running for FIA president. He revealed in a statement on X: "This message is to publicly confirm that I have finally decided not to run for the presidency of the FIA in this year's election. "I have worked hard these past months to understand in depth the situation at the FIA and the demands and complexities that come with such an important project," the 63-year-old wrote. "After a thoughtful reflection, I have come to the conclusion that the present circumstances are not ideal to set the grounds for my candidacy. "Furthermore, I have realized that properly running for President would notably compromise my preparation for the Dakar and I do not wish to weaken my commitment to Ford and my team. "These concerns have therefore inclined me to be realistic and desist from my FIA endeavour for now." With no competition in place, Mohammed Ben Sulayem will likely continue to perform the role of FIA president.
Gulf Today
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Gulf Today
Ben Sulayem set to be elected unopposed after Sainz drops out of FIA presidency race
Mohammed Ben Sulayem's chances of being re-elected unopposed as president of motor racing's world governing body increased on Wednesday when Spaniard Carlos Sainz Sr said he would not be standing for the FIA top job. The 63-year-old double world rally champion, four-times Dakar winner and father of the Williams Formula One driver of the same name, said in May he was considering running against the Emirati in the December election. The decision not to go ahead will allow him to compete again in the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia with Ford next January, something he said he did not want to miss. There is currently no other declared candidate beyond Ben Sulayem. 'Hi everyone. This message is to publicly confirm that I have finally decided not to run for the presidency of the FIA in this year's election,' Sainz said on X. 'I have worked hard these past months to understand in depth the situation at the FIA and the demands and complexities that come with such an important project,' he added. 'After a thoughtful reflection, I have come to the conclusion that the present circumstances are not ideal to set the grounds for my candidacy.' Sainz's son is a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association and the older Spaniard has dismissed suggestions there would be a conflict of interest if he was elected FIA president. Sainz said his desire to serve and lead remained strong and he still believed the organisation needed to make some important changes, which he hoped would happen in years to come. Ben Sulayem, who confirmed in May that he would be standing for a second term, is a controversial figure who has had battles with teams and drivers in Formula One and rallying. He holds a strong hand in an election where regional loyalties come into play and recent statute changes have made it harder, according to critics, for potential rivals to stand against him. Presidential candidates are also required to stand with a slate of potential office-holders put forward for the various roles. Rivalries and collisions hang over Austrian GP: Present rivalries and past collisions hang over Red Bull's home Austrian Grand Prix as Formula One braces for the next round of Max Verstappen v George Russell and more title-chasing drama at McLaren. Russell and reigning champion Verstappen finished first and second in Canada two weeks ago, with Red Bull protesting — in vain — the Mercedes win and accusing the Briton of unsportsmanlike behaviour. It is safe to say the pair are not friends and they are building up quite a track record, colliding in Spain this month in an incident that left Verstappen blamed and on the brink of a mandatory race ban. Two of those penalty points expire after Austria but he still has to stay out of trouble through a weekend in the Styrian hills where his orange-shirted fans will be out in numbers. 'It's always a great weekend there. We've had a lot of great results and, hopefully, we can have another strong weekend there,' said Verstappen, the Austrian GP winner in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2023. Team boss Christian Horner was not about to make any sweeping predictions. 'Probably our weakness at the moment is in the medium-speed type of corner,' he said. 'Austria, that middle sector, there's a bit of medium speed there. So we'll see. I would expect, if it's hot, McLaren to again be stronger. 'There's still a significant points gap between us and them (McLaren). But we don't give up on anything. We're not even at the halfway point yet.' Verstappen and Norris caused a commotion in Spielberg last year when they collided while scrapping for the lead, with Norris chasing. That gifted victory to Russell. Norris will return with the memory of that coming together now overtaken by the one between him and Piastri in Canada that left him 22 points adrift of the Australian after 10 of 24 races. The Briton, who retired in Montreal while Piastri finished fourth, could only blame himself for that error of judgement and knows without too much soul-searching that there can be no repeat. Reuters
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Carlo Sainz Sr. opts out of race for FIA presidency
Two-time world rally champion Carlos Sainz Sr said on Wednesday he was not going to run for president of the International Motoring Federation (FIA), clearing the way for Mohammed Ben Sulayem's re-election. Sainz, the father of Formula One driver Carlos Sainz Jr, last month said he was considering running for the position as head of motorsport's governing body. 'I have finally decided not to run for the presidency of the FIA in this year's election,' the 63-year-old Sainz wrote in a message on social media. 'I have worked hard these past months to understand in depth the situation at the FIA and the demands and complexities that come with such an important project. 'After thoughtful reflection, I have come to the conclusion that the present circumstances are not ideal to set the grounds for my candidacy.' Sainz, a four-time winner of the Dakar Rally, said he also did not want his preparations for next year's race to be affected by a bid for the FIA presidency. There is as yet no official opponent for current FIA boss Ben Sulayem in the December 12 election. However, his presidency has been punctuated by controversy following the resignations of several of the FIA's key senior staff and his moves to ban all swearing by F1 drivers.
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Malay Mail
Rally legend Sainz Sr pulls out of FIA presidency race, says present circumstances ‘not ideal'
MADRID, June 26 — Two-time world rally champion Carlos Sainz Sr said yesterday he was not going to run for president of the International Motoring Federation (FIA), clearing the way for Mohammed Ben Sulayem's re-election. Sainz, the father of Formula One driver Carlos Sainz Jr, last month said he was considering running for the position as head of motorsport's governing body. 'I have finally decided not to run for the presidency of the FIA in this year's election,' the 63-year-old Sainz wrote in a message on social media. 'I have worked hard these past months to understand in depth the situation at the FIA and the demands and complexities that come with such an important project. 'After thoughtful reflection, I have come to the conclusion that the present circumstances are not ideal to set the grounds for my candidacy.' Sainz, a four-time winner of the Dakar Rally, said he also did not want his preparations for next year's race to be affected by a bid for the FIA presidency. There is as yet no official opponent for current FIA boss Ben Sulayem in the December 12 election. However, his presidency has been punctuated by controversy following the resignations of several of the FIA's key senior staff and his moves to ban all swearing by F1 drivers. — AFP
BBC News
3 days ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
'Circumstances not ideal' - Sainz rules out FIA presidency bid
Rally legend Carlos Sainz has decided not to run for the presidency of motorsport's governing body the FIA in December's 63-year-old, who said in May he was considering the idea, explained that "the present circumstances are not ideal to set the grounds for my candidacy".Sainz said in a statement on social media, external that he believed the FIA "still needs important changes, which I remain genuinely hopeful will be tackled in the upcoming years".He added that a campaign would interfere with his preparations for next year's Dakar won the Dakar for the fourth time in 2024 and will compete in the desert event in Saudi Arabia next January with said: "I have realised that properly running for president would notably compromise my preparation for the Dakar and I do not wish to weaken my commitment to Ford and my team."These concerns have therefore inclined me to be realistic and desist from my FIA endeavour for now."The only declared candidate for the election is the current president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, whose time in office has been beset by involve changes to the FIA statutes that appear to extend his control, along with a series of sackings of senior figures within the FIA, and for his involvement in a series of situations that have angered many in Formula 1, from commercial rights holder Liberty Media to the FIA is currently the subject of a lawsuit from Susie Wolff, the head of the F1 Academy for aspiring female drivers and wife of Mercedes motorsport head Toto Wolff.
