Mohammed ben Sulayem is currently unopposed in the FIA presidential election due to take place later this year, but it seems he could be challenged by a motorsport legend
Carlos Sainz Snr could take on Mohammed ben Sulayem with a bid to become FIA president. The rally legend and father of Williams F1 driver Carlos Sainz Jnr is said to be considering running for the post after being approached by several figures keen to oust the incumbent leader.
Ben Sulayem has not been a popular figure among many in the Formula 1 world and beyond. And he has further antagonised people this year with harsh swearing punishments which have angered drivers not just in F1 but in other FIA-sanctioned series.
Several key figures have also departed the FIA, notably those who have spoken out against the president or not been a strong follower of his. That includes his deputy, Robert Reid, whose departure was announced last month.
But despite his unpopularity, Ben Sulayem remains unopposed for the next FIA presidential election. It is due to take place later this year with the current president coming to the end of his four-year term, though an exact date has yet to be confirmed.
According to Motorsport.com, Sainz Snr is considering running to provide an alternative candidate for those who do not want to vote for Ben Sulayem. The report quotes sources as having confirmed that key figures in motorsport are keen to back the Spanish former World Rally Champion.
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But it is understood that he is not likely to be the only one to run against Ben Sulayem. That is despite Susie Wolff, the managing director of F1 Academy and wife of Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, dismissing speculation that she could make a bid for the presidency.
The Wolffs have an ongoing legal case against the FIA after, in 2023, the governing body announced an inquiry over a ‘conflict of interest’ between their roles. Two days later it was withdrawn after a remarkable show of togetherness from every team in F1, each of which issued statements denying that they had asked for sure a probe.
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Sainz Snr is a hugely respected figure in the motorsport world owing to his success in rallying. Aged 63, he has continued to drive at a high level and even won the prestigious Dakar Rally in 2024 at the age of 61, just one year on from breaking his back in a horrific crash at the same event.
He is regularly seen in the F1 paddock to support his son, Carlos Jnr, who this year races for Williams. He had previously spent four seasons driving for Ferrari and previously represented Toro Rosso, Renault and McLaren.
But it will be tough for any challenger to remove Ben Sulayem. Despite the president’s unpopularity among many federations, he retains the backing of a lot of them, particularly those which do not play a big role in motorsport on the global stage.
But the way FIA presidential elections work means those smaller federations have exactly the same voting power as the larger ones, such as Britain’s Motorsport UK. Last year, Ben Sulayem said he would welcome a challenge from anyone who wanted to run against him.
