Carlos Sainz Sr, the father of Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz, is reportedly considering running for FIA president later this year.
According to Sky Sports News, the two-time World Rally champions appeared as candidates comparable to incumbent Mohammed Ben Slayem in the FIA presidential election this December.
Sainz, 63, is said to have “extensive support from executives in various motorsport categories where the FIA has jurisdiction.”
Importantly, the possibility of a conflict of interest for Sainz, who manages the sport his son competes, is “not expected to be a concern” among Formula One teams.
Sky Sports News reports that Sainz can “delete topics that are considered to be affecting a competitive situation.”
Sainz is considered a candidate with personal integrity – after some controversy surrounding Ben Sulayem, the FIA is under intense scrutiny.
Ben Surayem has been in office since being elected president in 2021 and is determined to continue his term as a further four years when the election takes place in Uzbekistan on December 12th.
Emirati’s leadership has been questioned by several well-known figures in the sport, including Robert Reid, who resigned from his role as sports vice president last month.
Reed expressed concern about the direction of governance at the FIA under Ben Slayem.
President Fia Mohammed I can’t irrigate
F1 drivers want a stronger voice
F1 drivers have called for more involved in the FIA decision-making process, sparking concerns over Ben Slayem’s tenure.
At the Miami Grand Prix last weekend, Lewis Hamilton argued that the Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA) should maintain a “table power sheet” when it comes to Formula 1 governance.
“I think the GPDA is in the end very uniform. Ultimately, I want to be able to work closely with the FIA,” the seven-time world champion said.
“I think we all, we all want to continue working together and make sports better, and of course, we have faced a slightly more difficult challenge with that communication over time.
“In the end, we don’t have a power seat on the table. In my opinion, it needs to change. If you look at other sports where there is a union, it may come out at some stage.
“We don’t want to control things, we just want to work with them more and have our voices heard.
“In the end, people make decisions for others who weren’t in that position. It’s good to have a perspective from a driver’s perspective. That’s all we try to give.”
Sainz Sr is a man who orders respect for Formula 1 drivers and is passionate about working together.
