Ben Sulayem set to be elected unopposed after Sainz drops out of FIA presidency race
Mohammed Ben Sulayem's chances of being re-elected unopposed as president of motor racing's world governing body increased on Wednesday when Spaniard Carlos Sainz Sr said he would not be standing for the FIA top job.
The 63-year-old double world rally champion, four-times Dakar winner and father of the Williams Formula One driver of the same name, said in May he was considering running against the Emirati in the December election.
The decision not to go ahead will allow him to compete again in the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia with Ford next January, something he said he did not want to miss.
There is currently no other declared candidate beyond Ben Sulayem.
'Hi everyone. 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,' Sainz said on X.
'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,' he added.
'After a thoughtful reflection, I have come to the conclusion that the present circumstances are not ideal to set the grounds for my candidacy.'
Sainz's son is a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association and the older Spaniard has dismissed suggestions there would be a conflict of interest if he was elected FIA president.
Sainz said his desire to serve and lead remained strong and he still believed the organisation needed to make some important changes, which he hoped would happen in years to come.
Ben Sulayem, who confirmed in May that he would be standing for a second term, is a controversial figure who has had battles with teams and drivers in Formula One and rallying.
He holds a strong hand in an election where regional loyalties come into play and recent statute changes have made it harder, according to critics, for potential rivals to stand against him.
Presidential candidates are also required to stand with a slate of potential office-holders put forward for the various roles.
Rivalries and collisions hang over Austrian GP: Present rivalries and past collisions hang over Red Bull's home Austrian Grand Prix as Formula One braces for the next round of Max Verstappen v George Russell and more title-chasing drama at McLaren.
Russell and reigning champion Verstappen finished first and second in Canada two weeks ago, with Red Bull protesting — in vain — the Mercedes win and accusing the Briton of unsportsmanlike behaviour.
It is safe to say the pair are not friends and they are building up quite a track record, colliding in Spain this month in an incident that left Verstappen blamed and on the brink of a mandatory race ban.
Two of those penalty points expire after Austria but he still has to stay out of trouble through a weekend in the Styrian hills where his orange-shirted fans will be out in numbers.
'It's always a great weekend there. We've had a lot of great results and, hopefully, we can have another strong weekend there,' said Verstappen, the Austrian GP winner in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2023.
Team boss Christian Horner was not about to make any sweeping predictions.
'Probably our weakness at the moment is in the medium-speed type of corner,' he said. 'Austria, that middle sector, there's a bit of medium speed there. So we'll see. I would expect, if it's hot, McLaren to again be stronger.
'There's still a significant points gap between us and them (McLaren). But we don't give up on anything. We're not even at the halfway point yet.'
Verstappen and Norris caused a commotion in Spielberg last year when they collided while scrapping for the lead, with Norris chasing. That gifted victory to Russell.
Norris will return with the memory of that coming together now overtaken by the one between him and Piastri in Canada that left him 22 points adrift of the Australian after 10 of 24 races.
The Briton, who retired in Montreal while Piastri finished fourth, could only blame himself for that error of judgement and knows without too much soul-searching that there can be no repeat.
Reuters
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
6 hours ago
- The National
Why F1 The Movie saved its biggest scene for Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina Circuit
Abu Dhabi 's Yas Marina Circuit isn't just home to some of the most memorable moments in Formula One history – it's now the setting of one of the most ambitious racing sequences in Hollywood history. The finale of F1 The Movie, directed by Top Gun: Maverick filmmaker Joseph Kosinski, was filmed on location during a race weekend in the UAE capital. The production team merged the high-speed action of real-world Formula One with precision filmmaking, enlisting a massive crew that included 280 UAE-based professionals and 15 home-grown interns. 'This was a massive undertaking,' Mohamed Dobay, acting director general of the Creative Media Authority, tells the The National at the film's regional premiere, held at the same circuit where it all took place. 'For this movie, we had nearly 280 local crew members working on set. In addition to that, around 500 crew members came from abroad – places like Hungary, Romania, Canada, the US and the UK.' The film's cast and crew filmed at the Yas Marina Circuit for a total of 29 days across three shoots – with key sequences filmed at the 2023 and 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix races. Emirati Saleh Al Zaabi, a media studies graduate from Zayed University, was one of the interns supporting the production. He trained in the camera department and says working closely with professionals enriched his knowledge of filmmaking. 'I'm truly honoured to have had this learning experience,' Saleh says. Saleh was particularly interested in the equipment used for the thrilling on-board sequences, for which cameras were assembled and attached to the actors' cars. 'The cameras themselves were actually prototypes of a special Sony model, custom-made for mounting on Formula One cars,' he says. 'This experience reassured me that I'm capable of handling myself on large-scale productions. When I go back out into the field, I'll feel confident that I can take on whatever challenges come my way.' How Abu Dhabi assembled its interns for F1 This is the experience that Aysha Al Jneibi, director of talent management at the Creative Media Authority, had hoped the interns would have. Al Jneibi runs initiatives that place talented locals on projects in film, music, journalism, storytelling, digital marketing and other creative media. She says that for F1 The Movie, they whittled down a list 50 applicants and nominees to fill the 15 positions. 'All of our interns go through a screening and development process,' Al Jneibi explains. 'They typically begin by working on smaller local productions, such as documentaries or short films, before progressing to larger-scale projects. 'By the time they're selected for a major international production like F1 The Movie, they've already gained significant experience and training. At that point, they're not just learning on set – they're contributing and proving their capabilities.' While Dobay acknowledges that a skills disparity remains between local and international talent in some areas, the growing UAE industry is closing the gap. 'For example, in areas like stunts we currently lack local professionals, so we've been working to attract international stunt companies,' Dobay says. 'Stunts are just one area. There are also technical aspects like VFX and explosives that still require outside expertise. But we're actively working to develop these capabilities, and we're optimistic that, over time, we'll build a well-rounded local talent pool.' How UAE-based interns supported production Margarita Sataeva, from Russia, interned in the make-up and casting departments during the shoots. She says her first responsibility 'was to input background actors' information into the system so they could access the set'. During the second section of shooting, her main role was ensuring continuity for the actors in the background of a shot. 'I would take continuity photos of the extras, ensure their appearance matched previous scenes, and do touch-ups to maintain consistency,' Sataeva says. Emirati Hamdah Abdulrhman was an intern in the production department. She says her responsibilities included creating badges and passes for crew members and 'putting together welcome kits for everyone arriving from out of town'. 'I also helped organise the equipment ordered by the film crew and made sure it was delivered to the garages where the racing cars were kept.' Abdulrhman said of the experience: 'It helped me realise that production offers so many different paths, and it's really expanded my confidence in what I can do. 'This was my first experience working on a Hollywood film, and it gave me real motivation to aim higher. It inspired me to dream of becoming a filmmaker and director – someone whose work is seen not just locally, but around the world.' Building the UAE film industry Local internships have been part of every international production in Abu Dhabi and Dobay says that it has been great to see the number of interns rise. 'That's a big plus for us because it means our local talent pool is growing. One of the main objectives of hosting large-scale productions in Abu Dhabi is to help develop that local talent.' Abu Dhabi continues to host and assist international film and television production, made more attractive by the tax rebates it offers. Head of the Abu Dhabi Film Commission Sameer Al Jaberi says successes with productions such as Star Wars, Mission Impossible and Dune have created a good reputation for the city and its capabilities. 'Reputation and trust play a huge role in our industry, which relies heavily on word of mouth,' says Al Jaberi. 'Our previous successes have built a strong track record for Abu Dhabi and helped us earn the trust of international producers and studios.' Al Jaberi says the film commission's role is to support productions with everything they could need. 'We act as the link between government entities and the production companies to ensure a smooth process from start to finish.'
Al Etihad
14 hours ago
- Al Etihad
UAE Para Dressage programme puts two riders in the saddle for LA2028
26 June 2025 22:37 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)The Royal Stables in Abu Dhabi has achieved a significant milestone in its Para Dressage Performance Programme, launched earlier this year to develop a UAE national team for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Games. Since April, several Emirati athletes have joined the pioneering training pathway, and now, two of them have completed their FEI classifications, putting them firmly on the road to LA Al Bluoshi and Wafaa Aldahmani, both 31 years old and from Ras Al Khaimah, have been undergoing intensive weekly training at The Royal Stables since enrolling in April, alongside their fellow athletes. Their regimen includes riding lessons, theory sessions, simulator training, physiotherapy, and sports psychology. The programme is built on a holistic approach designed to nurture both technical knowledge, athlete fitness and mental the training modules, the athletes are supported by experts in sports physiotherapy, psychology, and nutrition to enhance performance and optimise June, Fatima and Wafaa travelled to Wellington Riding in the United Kingdom, where they undertook their official FEI Para Dressage classification assessments. Fatima, who has lived with spina bifida affecting her lower limbs since birth, wasclassified as Grade III, while Wafaa, who experienced lower limb paralysis following contracting Polio as an infant, was classified as Grade time in the UK also included daily training, attending the Concours Para- Équestre de Dressage International, and connecting with members of TeamGB's multi-gold medal-winning Paralympians. The trip provided invaluable opportunities for technical development and international Russell MacKechnie-Guire, Technical Lead for the UAE Para Dressage Performance Programme, accompanied the athletes on the trip. An internationally recognised expert in equine biomechanics and performance analysis, Dr. MacKechnie-Guire said, "This was a defining moment for the athletes and the programme. The FEI classification is essential for any para dressage rider aspiring to compete internationally, and to see Fatima and Wafaa approach this with such professionalism and determination was exceptional.""The experience of training daily, watching elite competition, and engaging with Team GB's riders gave them, and us, a clear picture of the standards we are working towards. It is the start of an exciting journey, and both athletes have shown they belong on this path."The Para Dressage Performance Programme remains open to aspiring Emirati athletes of determination and continues its talent identification and development efforts, with several other athletes already participating in training sessions at The Royal Stables. Laura Richardson, Performance Manager, said, "Fatima and Wafaa's progress is inspiring, not just for the equestrian community but for the UAE as a whole. This programme was created to break barriers, and in just two short months together, we have already achieved the first key milestone on our exciting journey to LA 2028."
TECHx
15 hours ago
- TECHx
Oracle Red Bull Racing Adopts Oracle Fusion Cloud Apps
Home » Top stories » Oracle Red Bull Racing Adopts Oracle Fusion Cloud Apps Oracle Red Bull Racing has announced its adoption of Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications Suite. The move is aimed at enhancing productivity, reducing costs, and improving both employee and fan experiences. The team will use Oracle Fusion Applications for finance, human resources, and customer experience. This integrated approach allows Oracle Red Bull Racing to manage operations more efficiently under Formula One's strict cost cap rules. The team reported that it previously relied on manual, spreadsheet-based financial planning. To address this challenge, it needed a single view of its business data. Oracle Fusion Applications now connects its finance, HR, and customer experience data on one platform. Matt Cadieux, Chief Information Officer at Oracle Red Bull Racing, stated that the team is leveraging cloud technologies and advancements in predictive, generative, and agentic AI. These tools are expected to optimize financial planning, deliver faster business insights, and improve resource utilization. Oracle Fusion Cloud Enterprise Performance Management (EPM), a component of Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP, will improve visibility, budgeting, and planning. Meanwhile, Oracle Fusion Cloud Human Capital Management (HCM) will simplify payroll and HR tasks, enhance recruitment, and generate deeper workforce insights. Additionally, the team continues to use Oracle Fusion Cloud Customer Experience (CX) to connect with fans. Features include content personalization, loyalty programs, and exclusive rewards. Steve Miranda, Executive Vice President of Applications Development at Oracle, revealed that the cloud suite will help the team drive efficiency and innovation on and off the track. Oracle Consulting will oversee the implementation Oracle Customer Success Services (CSS) will provide ongoing support Oracle Red Bull Racing emphasized the importance of speed, efficiency, and innovation to stay ahead in Formula One, both technically and operationally.
