Carlos Sainz, one of the most decorated personalities in the motorsport fraternity has come out in the open to say that he plans to possibly contest for the position of the FIA President. The two times the world rally champion and the current Dakar rally champion said that the time is right for him to lead the sport’s worldwide governing body.

Sainz, 62, was very keen to emphasise that his interest in running for the candidacy is because of passion for motorsport and not to make money out of it as he has spent over 40 years in the motorsport. He said that while he has considered the presidency before, it is only now that the concepts have some substance. The next FIA presidential election will be held on December 12 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and given that current president Sulayem has declared that he will seek re-election, Sainz is testing how much support he has in the motorsport world.

Asked for the reasons, he replied: ‘Well you know, there are many reasons, but I have been driving for over 40 years and this sport saved me”. That has been in the back of my mind for a while and not at a very conscious level but I have been considering the possibility of a step up at this point in my career. As for my abilities and potential for producing a team I am rather optimistic that I will be able to do a good job and pay back at least a little portion of what this sport has given me.

Although Sainz is the father of the current young and talented Williams Formula 1 driver, Carlos Sainz Jr, he does not think there is any conflict of interest. Nevertheless, he stated that he would be professional when it comes to handling any private relationship that there is with the family and the FIA responsibility. “I have my track record and people know me well enough and will not create the problem on my part.” Of course, he will have to demasculinize regarding other aspects of his life, particularly employment, and having affairs with certain junior employees like Carlos, which will not be an issue. “He is no longer a kid, he has been doing F1 for over 10 years now and you and I both know very well that if I proceed with this project, our friendship will never be the same again of course.”

The FIA has not been untouched [sic: exempt] from such criticism in the recent past as the following years will testify. It’s worthy to mention that since the appointment of Ben Sulayem as the head of the organization, the relationship between the organization and the F1 has been characterised by a number of incidents of confrontation between and among the team principals, drivers and the FIA over race interference and governance. When asked for a personalised response to criticisms of the incumbent, Sainz was only willing to state his own objective and not what he or the president has been doing.

Thank God there have been such issues in the recent past at least but frankly I would prefer to shift my concern towards my own needs. I think it would also be most advisable for me not to have any pros and cons about this case. I will not be angry at someone, that’s the way I have passion for motor sport because I know they that I can bring change wherever change is required he said.

Sainz established himself as a racer and a celebrity not only by his achievements but the good work he has done and the practices he has maintained. But he added that were he to contest the FIA Presidency, his campaign will be based on professionalism, thorough disclosure and the wish to extend and link FIA with the various regions and entities in the motor sporting pyramid.

Well, everybody has his own way of running it, everybody has his own views on how it should be done, and everybody has his own perception of this sport and the whole world of mobility. As I move forward, I believe that my performance indicates that when I get involved with something, there is only one way that I could do it and that would be professionally, sincerely and straightforwardly. Then it will depend on the community to make his/her Decision,” he said.

This is why, in his opinion, his experience as a driver who has competed at different levels in various disciplines will be useful. I have been on the other side of motorsport and its integral understanding is that everybody needs to be heard, both the drivers, teams/teams, fans, organizers/promoters, manufacturers. He said: “I believe that I can make that relationship a lot smoother and strengthen.”

For now, Sainz is seeking to pop the proverbial feelers, communicating with stakeholders in motorsport to determine the kind of support he’ll have when he’ll finally decide whether to go for it. His candidacy would also be a change for the FIA since the head of this organization would be a grassroots racing champion unlike the past when this position has been occupied by administrative or political persons.

However, whether or not he will run he has stated that he will not be leaving motorsport anytime soon. “I would like to see the future of the FIA as an entity that is absolutely liked and valued by every person.”

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