Sainz backs father's FIA presidency bid - denies 'conflict of interest'

Carlos Sainz Jr. has confirmed that his father, rally legend Carlos Sainz Sr., is giving serious thought to entering the race to become the next president of the FIA.

Speaking ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on Thursday at Imola, the Williams driver addressed growing speculation that the two-time World Rally Champion may challenge Mohammed Ben Sulayem for motorsport’s top administrative role.

Sainz Sr., 63, has reportedly been encouraged by members of the Formula 1 paddock to consider the move, as discontent continues to grow over Ben Sulayem’s tenure, which has been marked by controversies ranging from inconsistent stewarding to public disputes over driver conduct.

When asked about the possibility of his father running, Sainz Jr. confirmed that the idea is under active consideration.

“I can just tell you that he’s considering it seriously,” commented the Williams driver.

“Like he said, he’s evaluating all the options, obviously now starting to think what team, what people, individuals he would like to have in his team.

“He’s trying to understand how the elections work, how much convincing, how many people he needs to obviously go and talk to, but he’s evaluating the whole thing and trying to understand how everything works.”

Navigating Politics and Paddock Support

The political complexities of motorsport governance have raised questions about Sainz Sr.’s potential role, a concern the younger Sainz acknowledged.

“I think that’s a negative side, no, with the politics,” he added. “But I think that if there’s a guy that could remove politics from it, it could also be my dad because he sticks to common sense and very basic rules of going about life and things.

“I think that’s why so many people went to him to push him, maybe, to potentially do it. So there’s politics, he will probably not enjoy that part of the work, but he knows it’s part also and he will have to handle it.”

The encouragement from the F1 paddock has apparently been a key factor in Sainz Sr.’s considerations. The 63-year-old rally legend’s reputation for integrity and common sense has evidently resonated with those urging him to challenge Ben Sulayem’s leadership.

Addressing Conflict of Interest Concerns

However, concerns have surfaced about a potential conflict of interest, given Sainz’s active role as a Williams driver in Formula 1.

But the Spaniard dismissed these worries, emphasizing both his and his father’s commitment to maintaining impartiality.

“I’ve been trying to think of scenarios where it could, but I actually don’t see any way how that could be seen,” he said.

Read also:

• Sainz Sr: No conflict between FIA bid and son competing in F1

“If anything, he will be extremely careful, I will be extremely careful because the last thing that I want is my or his image or career to be damaged by that situation.

“So if anything, we would do the opposite effect and I don’t see any conflict of [interest]. You personally know my dad or you personally know me. We are honest people that would never ever compromise that situation in motorsport.”

Sainz also highlighted his father’s deep passion for the sport as a driving force behind the potential candidacy.

“My dad is just non-stop – he loves motorsport, he loves racing, and he sees this as an opportunity to end his racing career but still do something further and find ways to give back to motorsport,” he said.

“Give back to the FIA, an entity that he has a lot of respect for all his years, and he knows what the FIA has done for the last 20-30 years to improve safety in motorsport, to improve everyone’s life here in motorsport.

“So he wants to, feels like he could give back and that motivates him.”

As the FIA presidential election approaches, Sainz Sr.’s potential bid could reshape the sport’s governing body, with his son – and many others in the motorsport community – firmly supporting his father’s vision to contribute to motorsport’s future while navigating the challenges of leadership with integrity.

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