Carlos Sainz says there would be no conflict of interest if his father runs for FIA presidency
Williams driver Carlos Sainz denied the suggestion that there would be any conflict of interest if his father, Carlos Sainz Sr., ran for the presidency of the FIA.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem is up for re-election at the end of this year and his term as FIA president (dating back to 2021's end) has been filled with controversy. A credible candidate has yet to step up to the plate to challenge Ben Sulayem, but last week, Sainz Sr., who is widely considered to be one of motorsport's greatest rally drivers as a double world champion, revealed to motorsport.com that he is considering it. He denied there would be any conflicts of interest with his son racing in Formula One and also working as a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association.
Advertisement
'I have my track record and people know me well enough to understand that this will not be an issue. Obviously, I will have to step down regarding my role with Carlos and his career but this is not an issue at all,' Sainz Sr. said to motorsport.com. 'He's not a child anymore, he has been in F1 for a decade now and we both know that if I go ahead with this project our relationship will change, of course. The FIA is a very serious entity and there will be no conflict.'
The younger Sainz reiterated a similar point Thursday at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, saying how he's 'been trying to think (of) scenarios where it could, but I actually don't see any way how that could be seen.' He claimed both sides would be 'extremely careful,' before adding, 'the last thing that I want is my or his image or career to be damaged by that situation.'
At this point and time, the 63-year-old two-time World Rally champion is not even officially running for president. He is looking into the matter after a number of people in the F1 paddock suggested the idea to him, Sainz Jr. said Thursday in Imola. But now, Sainz Sr. is considering who he would want on his election team and gain a better understanding about how the FIA elections work, his Williams driver son later added.
Before announcing any FIA presidency bid, Sainz Sr. would have to navigate complex workings within the governing body regarding its rules on who can stand in such elections. The BBC reported this week that Ben Sulayem is also moving to tighten these procedures even further, which could potentially bar any opposition candidate from running against him.
But considering how the FIA is the governing body of global motorsport, his father's breadth of experience does make him 'a very optimal candidate,' Sainz claimed.
Sainz Sr. has competed in rallying for over 40 years, making his start in 1980. He has won the Dakar Rally four times, most recently with Audi last year, and won the World Rally Championship in 1990 and 1992. But in addition to building his legendary career, Sainz Sr. has been involved in his son's career progress since he was starting out as a young go-kart racer.
Advertisement
'I'm biased, but I just honestly speak from the most objective position possible. (It) doesn't come to my head (that) anyone that has lived through all the karting days with his son and knows the roots of motorsport in go-karting (wouldn't be a suitable FIA president candidate),' Sainz said Thursday. 'He did four or five years of single-seaters with me, knowing how tough, expensive, difficult that ladder is. He's done 10 years in Formula One with me.'
Sainz, who made his F1 debut with what was then called Toro Rosso in 2015, later touched on how his dad has also been involved in multiple different areas of motorsport – including his rallying career and 'mobility work in Spain.'
If Sainz Sr. was to run, 'this isn't probably as big a step as some may think,' Williams team principal James Vowles said earlier this week, after touching on Sainz Sr.'s career to date. As the rally legend comes to the end of his racing career, he's 'trying to find a way to give back to motorsports,' his son said Thursday.
'He loves motorsport, he loves racing and he sees there an opportunity to put an end to his racing career but still do something further and find ways to give back to motorsport and give back to the FIA – an entity that he has a lot of respect for for all his years and he knows what the FIA has done for the last 20-30 years to improve safety in motorsport, to improve everyone's life here in motorsport. So he feels like he could give back and that motivates him.'
The one part of the job that Sainz Sr. may not enjoy would be the political battles, Sainz said. After all, F1 alone is known as the Piranha Club, and that's just one of the seven world championships the FIA oversees.
'But I think that if there's a guy who could remove politics from it, it could also be my dad because he sticks to common sense and very basic rules of going about life and things,' Sainz said. 'And I think that's why so many people went to him, to push him, maybe, to potentially do it.'
Additional reporting by Luke Smith
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
MLB Insider Lists Yankees Interim Closer as Potential Trade Candidate
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. When the New York Yankees made a deal to acquire former Milwaukee Brewers closer Devin Williams, many expected him to thrive with his new team. The duo of Williams and Luke Weaver in the backend of New York's bullpen had the potential to be one of the best in the game, but it has not quite gone that way. Williams has a 6.35 ERA and minus-0.6 WAR across 26 games and 22 2/3 innings pitched. His first season in a Yankees uniform has not gone how he envisioned it would and that may be why Mark Feinsand of listed Williams as a player that needs a change of scenery. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 03: Devin Williams #38 of the New York Yankees throws a pitch during the ninth inning of the game against the Cleveland Guardians at Yankee Stadium on June 03,... NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 03: Devin Williams #38 of the New York Yankees throws a pitch during the ninth inning of the game against the Cleveland Guardians at Yankee Stadium on June 03, 2025 in New York City. More"At first glance, trading the two-time All-Star reliever after acquiring him this winter seems like a crazy idea, but Williams has never seemed comfortable since joining the Yankees during the offseason," Feinsand wrote. "There was the facial hair issue during spring training, then a rocky start (10.00 ERA in his first 10 appearances) that cost him the closer's job before the end of April." Feinsand predicts that when New York's current closer Luke Weaver returns from the injured list, Williams' days in a Yankees uniform could be numbered. "He's been better during the past month (2.45 ERA in 12 appearances), but Williams will be a free agent after the season and seems unlikely to return to the Yankees in 2026," he wrote. "With Luke Weaver firmly entrenched as the closer (at least once he returns from the IL in a month or so), New York could look to move Williams later in July to get a return for him rather than watching him walk as a free agent." If New York decides to move off Williams when Weaver returns, teams such as the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals could use relief pitching help. More MLB: Three Players Diamondbacks Could Trade if Struggles Continue
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Jalen Williams on Thunder's NBA Finals Game 2 stakes: 'Pressure is a privilege'
Jalen Williams on Thunder's NBA Finals Game 2 stakes: 'Pressure is a privilege' With the entire sports world's attention on the 2025 NBA Finals, Jalen Williams has come a long way over the last four years from small-school Santa Clara, which likely only had a couple thousand people in the stands, to a global stage with millions watching. The championship series is only one game old, but the Oklahoma City Thunder are already at their first hurdle. Tyrese Haliburton's Game 1 game-winner put the title favorite in a 0-1 series hole. Goes without saying, but the Thunder must win Game 2 or risk being on the cusp of an all-time upset. If the Thunder even the series 1-1, Williams will likely play a big part. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort did enough to secure a Game 1 win, but the rest of the starters struggled. For the 24-year-old, that was 17 points on 6-of-19 shooting. Besides a hot three-minute fourth-quarter stretch, Williams couldn't buy a bucket. His process was solid. The rhythm scorer created quality mid-range looks and bullied his way into the basket. But the lack of touch created frustration. Expect Williams to bounce back. The Pacers don't possess defensive titans to slow down the All-Star player. If you can copy his shot chart, he'll surely enjoy better luck on balls that rimmed out or barely missed. The 24-year-old stayed cool when asked about the heavy expectations he shoulders. "I try and think of myself as somebody that's very uncommon. I don't ever think that I'm in my third year because then that allows me to make excuses. I should just go out there and play," Williams said. "Pressure is a privilege. So I enjoy being counted on and doing that, and I just think I've been counted on since, I feel like, last year, to be totally honest, just in regard to being there for the rest of the guys. And now we're here in the Finals." The Thunder have said all the right things after Game 1's stunner. We'll soon see if they can also walk the walk on the court. If you had to make a bet, expect the team that's only lost two in a row once this year to make up for its avoidable mistakes.
USA Today
7 hours ago
- USA Today
Seth Rollins on why Caleb Williams will have better Year 2 than Jayden Daniels
Seth Rollins on why Caleb Williams will have better Year 2 than Jayden Daniels Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams and Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels will be compared for the duration of their NFL careers. The first and second overall picks, respectively, have all of the talent and potential to thrive and be the face of the league for the long term. But while Daniels had an easy-going rookie season -- en route to Offensive Rookie of the Year honors -- Williams dealt with adversity and still faces plenty of criticism after just one year. During a recent appearance on the "Up & Adams" show, WWE superstar (and noted Bears fan) Seth Rollins explained why he believes Williams will have a better 2025 season than Daniels. "I think Caleb Williams is going to have a better year," Rollins said. "I think last year was an aberration. I think you're going to see a little bit of a sophomore slump. I think people are going to be able to gameplan for (Jayden) better. ... I just think the second year is going to be more difficult. You look at C.J. had a great year, but compared to the rookie year, not quite as good. I think you're going to look at it and see a situation like that whereas expectations are going to be a little bit lower for Caleb, and I think he's going to be able to exceed those. Plus, he's playing in a system with Ben Johnson that's going to be curated better to him than what he was doing with Shane Waldron." While it's easy to deem Rollins a "superfan" defending "his" quarterback, he brings up a good point. A sophomore slump could potentially be in play for Daniels, who had a lights-out rookie season. Also, we haven't even glimpsed Williams' ceiling after his chaotic rookie season that featured incompetent coaching. Now with Ben Johnson in place, we should get a taste of what Williams can really bring to the field. There's no reason Williams and Daniels can't both be great -- and we could very well be witnessing the beginning of that -- but people love to compare and declare who's better. That's a question that wouldn't even be answered for several years. But with both Williams and Daniels in the NFC, they'll be seeing a lot of each other throughout their careers -- especially if their respective teams become perennial playoff teams. Williams and Daniels will square off again for the second time in as many seasons when the Commanders host the Bears on Monday Night Football in Week 6. While Williams nearly won the first match -- before Tyrique Stevenson's blunder on a Hail Mary -- he'll have a chance to redeem himself and even the series with Daniels on Oct. 13.
