Carlos Sainz withdraws from running for FIA president

After considering running against outgoing President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, Carlos Sainz has announced that he will not be a candidate after all.

He had strongly considered it in recent months, Carlos Sainz will not ultimately become the next president of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, as he announced this Wednesday that he will not stand in the election which will take place as part of the FIA ​​World Congress, from November 12 to 15, in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

It was in a statement published on his social networks that the former world rally champion, whose son Carlos Sainz Jr. drives for Williams en Formula 1, announced his decision. The fact that he continues to race in the Dakar with Ford M-Sport was one of the factors that weighed in his decision not to pursue his ambition.

“I have ultimately decided not to run for the FIA ​​Presidency in this year’s election. I have worked hard over the past few months to thoroughly understand the situation at the FIA, and the demands and challenges that come with such an important project. After careful reflection, I have concluded that the current circumstances do not present the ideal breeding ground for a candidacy. I have also realized that running for the FIA ​​Presidency would have significantly compromised my preparation for the Dakar. I do not wish to diminish my commitment to Ford and my team. These concerns have pushed me to be realistic and not pursue my ambition at the FIA ​​for the time being.”

As I step down from this election, my passion for serving and leading in the world of motorsport has not changed, and I continue to believe that the organization is in need of significant change. I remain sincerely hopeful that these changes will be implemented in the coming years. Motor racing and mobility have been my life's business, and I will follow future developments with great interest. I will continue to support my sport and strive to make an impactful contribution to improving mobility for road users around the world.

Finally, I would like to sincerely thank you all for your messages of support, encouragement, and advice I have received over the past few weeks. All of this has strengthened my confidence to continue pursuing my present and future goals, and I am absolutely grateful.

Outgoing President Mohammed Ben Sulayem is currently the only declared candidate for re-election, after a first four-year term in office, during which he succeeded Jean Todt.

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