Carlos Sainz Sr. announced he would not run for FIA president this year as “current circumstances are not ideal for setting the basis for my candidacy.”
The two-time World Rally Champion is interested in challenging last month’s Mohammed Ben Slayem, and the election is scheduled to take place in December. He addressed conflicts of interest concerns related to his son Williams driver Carlos Sainz, but soon after he made his intentions public, changes were made to the FIA Act, which brought deadlines announced by the presidential team and added further provisions for candidates.
The BBC first reported a change in the law, stating that “there must be nothing in the record of candidates standing for election as a member of the President’s list that question their professional integrity.”
The proposal was confirmed two weeks ago by a vote at the FIA General Assembly, and while Sainz Sr. calls his own rally career the centre of his decision, he still feels that changes are needed in the FIA.
“We have worked hard over the past few months to gain a deeper understanding of the FIA situation and the demands and complexities that come with such a critical project,” Sainz SR said in a statement.
“After thoughtful reflection, I have come to the conclusion that the current situation is not ideal to set the basis for my candidacy.
“In addition, I have realized that running properly for the President would particularly compromise Dakar’s preparation. I don’t want to undermine my commitment to Ford and the team. So these concerns hope that I am realistic and have dased out of my FIA efforts for now.
“Even though I stepped down from this race, my passion for serving and leading in the world of motorsports has not changed. I still believe the organization needs significant changes.
“Both race and mobility are my life and I will follow closely with great interest in future development. I will always try to support my sport and contribute in every meaningful way to improve the mobility of road users around the world.
“Finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the support, encouragement and advice I have received over the past few weeks.
The Sainz SR decision means that Ben Sulayem is currently not opposed in the December election.