Carlos Sainz Sr has decided to pull out from running for FIA President post after going through extensive research, as his focus remains his driving career.
In the last few months, Sainz Sr was touted as a big name to be involved in the FIA presidential election going up against Mohammed Ben Sulayem. At the same time, the current President tightened his grip via support from various regions, who shared public signature to back Sulayem.
In some ways, it weakened Sainz Sr’s chance, who had to gather big support in short amount of time to challenge Sulayem. With not much time left at hand, the Spaniard eventually decided to pull the plug on his bid after going through extensive research before taking the big decision.
His primary goal is to compete in Dakar Rally, which certainly posed a roadblock in the quest to become the FIA President. He, therefore, decided to put a stop at it – for now. It is not clear if it is the end or he will prepare better the next time. Despite the decision, Sainz Sr has an eye on the changes that the organisation needs for a bright future.
Here’s what Sainz Sr wrote –
This message is to publicly confirm that I have finally decided not to run for the presidency of the FIA in this year’s election. I have worked hard these past months to understand in depth the situation at the FIA and the demands and complexities that come with such an important project. After a thoughtful reflection, I have come to the conclusion that the present circumstances are not ideal to set the grounds for my candidacy. Furthermore, I have realized that properly running for President would notably compromise my preparation for the Dakar and I do not wish to weaken my commitment to Ford and my team. These concerns have therefore inclined me to be realistic and desist from my FIA endeavour for now.
Despite stepping down from this race, my passion for serving and leading within the Motorsport world hasn’t changed and I still believe the organization needs important changes, which I remain genuinely hopeful that will be tackled in the upcoming years. Both racing and mobility have been my life and I will closely follow future developments with great interest. I will always support my sport and try to contribute in all meaningful ways to improve mobility for road users around the world. Finally, I want to sincerely thank you all for the messages of support, encouragement and advice I have received during the past weeks. They have reinforced my confidence to continue striving towards my present and future goals and I’m truly grateful.
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