Carlos Sainz Sr reportedly eyeing FIA presidency ahead of high-stakes 2025 election showdown
Carlos Sainz Sr is reportedly considering a bid for the FIA presidency ahead of the crucial December 2025 election. (Credit: Getty Images0
FIA presidency race heats up with Carlos Sainz Sr reportedly entering the 2025 contest
Could Carlos Sainz Sr CHALLENGE Mohammed Ben Sulayem for FIA presidency? 👀
Rally legend Carlos Sainz Sr , a towering figure in motorsport, is seriously considering a bid to become the next president of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). With elections set for December 12 in Uzbekistan, the two-time World Rally Champion and four-time Dakar Rally winner may challenge the embattled incumbent, Mohammed Ben Sulayem . The 63-year-old Spaniard has expressed a strong sense of duty to give back to a sport that has shaped his life and legacy.'This possibility has been in my mind for some time now, not very deeply, but now I think it could be the right time in my career for me to take the step,' Sainz said in a statement to Motorsport.com. 'I'm confident I can do a good job and put together an excellent team to give back to the sport part of what it has given me.'Sainz's credentials make him a serious contender. With over four decades of elite racing experience and a reputation for professionalism and integrity, his potential candidacy has already started generating buzz among insiders. According to sources close to the matter, Sainz is in the process of evaluating the level of support he might receive from the global motorsport community before making an official declaration.Importantly, he addressed concerns about a potential conflict of interest due to his son, Carlos Sainz Jr., who currently races in Formula 1 for Williams.'I have my track record and people know me well enough to understand that this will not be an issue,' Sainz Sr said. 'Obviously, I will have to step down regarding my role with Carlos and his career but this is not an issue at all. He's not a child any more… The FIA is a very serious entity and there will be no conflict.'If he formally enters the race, Sainz would be taking on Mohammed Ben Sulayem, whose leadership since 2021 has faced increasing scrutiny. Although Ben Sulayem has yet to officially confirm his re-election bid, he is widely expected to run again. His tenure has been marked by governance-related controversies, high-profile resignations, and allegations of interference in race operations.The recent resignation of FIA deputy president for sport Robert Reid, citing "a fundamental breakdown in governance standards," followed the earlier exits of compliance officer Paolo Basarri and audit committee members Bertrand Badre and Tom Purves. Former FIA CEO Natalie Robyn also broke her silence last year, stating that "professional processes are not adhered to and stakeholders are excluded from decision-making."These internal shake-ups have rattled confidence in the FIA's leadership, creating an opening for a reform-minded figure like Sainz. His emphasis on collaboration and transparency could be a welcome change, particularly among drivers. The Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA), led by George Russell, has recently voiced its dissatisfaction with the FIA's punitive measures on language and public criticism. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton has advocated for increased driver influence in governance, saying drivers should hold 'a power seat at the table.'Sainz reportedly supports a more inclusive approach and is keen on empowering drivers and teams through greater involvement in rule-making and strategic decisions. His longstanding experience and diplomatic demeanor could provide the stability and forward-thinking vision the FIA is currently lacking.As December approaches, the motorsport world waits in anticipation. Whether Sainz officially enters the race or not, his potential candidacy alone has already begun to reshape the conversation around the future leadership of motorsport's most powerful governing body.Also Read: Is F1 the endgame for Lando Norris? McLaren driver shares thoughts on what's next
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Carlos Alcaraz captures Nadal's Roland Garros footprint: Explains gesture
Carlos Alcaraz paused during his warm-up ahead of his French Open semi-final against Lorenzo Musetti to take a photo of Rafael Nadal's commemorative footprint plaque at Court Philippe-Chatrier. The quiet gesture was a tribute to his childhood idol — a player whose legacy looms large at Roland plaque, installed earlier this year, features Nadal's famous footprint and a replica of the French Open trophy. It honours the Spaniard's incredible 14-title record at the tournament and has become a symbolic spot for players and fans. Alcaraz's respectful gesture, which was caught on camera, quickly went viral and struck a chord with tennis fans around the the video here:Carlos Alcaraz takes a photo of Rafa Nadal's footprint on Philippe-Chatrier ahead of his Roland Garros semifinalLove The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) June 6, 2025"I think it was the first time I was able to warm up before the match here at Chatrier, so I tried to make the most of the time. I took the time to take a photo of it. Seeing a bit of Rafa Nadal at Philippe Chatrier while I play is a great inspiration," Alcaraz said after the Musetti semi-final. "I try not to think too much about it during the match, but in tough matches, I think about the effort and level of Rafa, how he constantly fights. He never gives up. I try to think about that and try to do it myself. The only thing I can do is keep a memory of that Rafa Nadal plaque," he after the moment, Alcaraz advanced to his second consecutive French Open final. His opponent Musetti retired early in the fourth set due to a thigh injury. Musetti had taken the first set 6-4, but Alcaraz bounced back to win the next two and was leading 2-0 in the fourth when the match ended.A sad ending to a thrilling encounterAlcaraz is back in the Roland-Garros final as Musetti is forced to retire. #RolandGarros Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 6, 2025advertisementDespite a tough start, Alcaraz shifted gears in the second set, dominating the rallies with his movement and aggressive play. The match was shaping up to be a thrilling battle before the injury cut it has often credited Nadal as his biggest inspiration and has embraced comparisons to the 'King of Clay.' Many now see him as Nadal's natural successor at Roland Garros — and his quiet tribute before the semi-final was a symbolic nod to that passing of the torch.
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Switched-on Alcaraz in French Open final after Musetti retires
Mumbai: There is a switch in the Carlos Alcaraz arsenal that he seems to turn on at will. Just when you feel you have him beat, or you are at par with the world No.2, he will turn on that switch and suddenly the afterburners ignite. Suddenly there's a spring in his step and he's chasing down everything thrown at him. Suddenly he's serving bigger, hitting the ball harder. Suddenly, he's turned the match around. On Friday, against the odds, Lorenzo Musetti looked the better of the two players in the early stages as he competed with Alcaraz in the semi-final of the French Open. The Italian won the opening set and refused to let the Spaniard surge ahead in the second. But Alcaraz managed to win the second-set tiebreaker. That was the cue for him to let loose. Musetti could not hang on and was forced to retire early in the fourth set. A match that started with great promise was left incomplete, with Alcaraz going through 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-0, 2-0. The Spaniard, all of 22 years and 20 days, is now the fourth youngest men's singles player to reach the final of a Grand Slam in four consecutive years in the Open Era - with only Mats Wilander, Bjorn Borg and Rafael Nadal being younger. Alcaraz, who has never lost in the final of a Grand Slam, is now three sets away from a fifth major. He played for two hours and 26 minutes against Musetti, but he is already raring to go for Sunday. 'I feel great, I feel that I am playing great tennis, I feel confident,' he said in his on-court interview after the semi-final. 'I've been doing great things in this tournament, and now it's time to give my 100% and go for the final on Sunday.' That's an early warning from the Spaniard, who overcame a two sets to one deficit to beat Alexander Zverev in the final last year for his first French Open title. He has been the overwhelming favourite this term as well. For starters, Alcaraz had, arguably, a more favourable draw given that the biggest contenders for the title - Zverev, world No.1 Jannik Sinner and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic were placed in the other half of the draw. Coming up against Musetti, Alcaraz was to play an opponent he had beaten five out of six times. And it was Alcaraz who made the first big moves in the match, challenging Musetti's serve. The Italian, No.7 in the world, managed to hold his serve though. And he turned the tables on Alcaraz at the most crucial moment in the first set. With the Spaniard serving to stay in the set, Musetti found the break to clinch the opener in 49 minutes. It wasn't that Alcaraz was faltering much. It was more that Musetti had employed tactics to keep the man from Murcia at bay. Musetti played with topspin, switched to flat strokes, sliced with relish with his one-handed backhand, and tossed in moonballs (he played 10 lobbed shots in each of the first two sets). He offered no rhythm to Alcaraz. The tactics worked and Alcaraz looked a touch rattled. But in the crunch moments of the tiebreaker, Alcaraz managed to get on top. And then he switched gears. 'The first two sets were really tough. I had chances to break his serve to be up, but I couldn't make the most of it. He was playing great tennis,' Alcaraz said. 'When I won the second set, I was a bit relieved. And then in the third set I knew what I had to do - just push him to the limit, try to be aggressive, not let him dominate. Just be myself. I was more calm. I could see more clearly and I could play great tennis at the beginning of the third.' In the third set, Alcaraz hit his forehand with much more power than he had throughout the match. His serve too started to give him more inroads into rallies - he dropped just one point on serve in the entire set. But while Alcaraz moved to a higher level, Musetti started to struggle with a hamstring issue. Down 5-0 in the third, a physio was called on court to try helping the 23-year-old recover. But about 10 minutes later, Musetti decided to retire from the match. Acknowledging the quality with which his opponent played, Alcaraz applauded Musetti and urged the crowd at Court Philippe Chatrier to do the same as the Italian walked towards the exit. This was Musetti's best performance at the French Open. Now Alcaraz, the defending champion, has a chance to match his own best in Paris.
India Today
4 hours ago
- India Today
French Open: Carlos Alcaraz bounces back against injured Musetti to return to final
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz had luck on his side Friday as he advanced to the final of the 2025 French Open. In a match lasting two hours and 25 minutes, Alcaraz emerged victorious after Lorenzo Musetti retired midway through the fourth set due to injury. The score at the time was 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-0, 2-0 in favour of has now become the fifth-youngest player to reach five Grand Slam finals in the Open Era. The Spaniard is also the third active male player to achieve the milestone, joining the legendary Novak Djokovic (37) and Daniil Medvedev (6) in the elite Open 2025 semifinals Updates Alcaraz played better tennis for the majority of the first set, making Musetti work hard for every point by forcing him to cover the entire length of the court. But Musetti somehow managed to hold and didn't let Alcaraz run away with the set. Alcaraz tried to use drop shots to good effect, but Musetti was equal to the task. At 5-4, Musetti drew first blood, gained two break points, and converted the first to claim the would have heaved a sigh of relief after earning his first service break of the match to go 2-1 up in the second set. But his joy was short-lived, as Musetti broke back immediately in the very next game. Alcaraz had a break point opportunity in the ninth game, but Musetti held firm and denied however, earned a second break to go 6-5 up and was just a service hold away from claiming the set. But Musetti had other ideas—he broke back for a third time to force a tie-break. There, Alcaraz brought out his A-game, racing to a 3-0 lead before closing out the set of victory for Carlos Alcaraz but no dance for us #RolandGarros Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 6, 2025The third set was a completely one-sided affair as Alcaraz finished it in a mere 22 minutes. Alcaraz, who had to fight out of his skin to earn a single break in the opening set, delivered a bagel with three breaks of serve. During the latter half of the set, Musetti looked in a bit of discomfort and asked for after conceding an early break in the fourth set, Musetti decided he couldn't continue. As he walked off the court, Alcaraz was seen applauding his Italian opponent. The two shared a hug as Musetti's campaign came to a heartbreaking far as Alcaraz is concerned, he will next face the winner of the other semi-final between 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic and World No.1 Jannik Sinner. Must Watch
