Carlos Sainz Sr. confirms he’s not running to lead auto racing governing body

By Canadian Press on June 25, 2025.

LONDON (AP) — Carlos Sainz Sr. has confirmed he won’t run for the presidency of the FIA — the governing body for auto racing series like Formula 1.

Sainz, the father of F1 driver Carlos Sainz Jr., announced Wednesday that his decision followed months spent trying to “understand in depth the situation at the FIA” as well as the “demands and complexities” of the job.

“After thoughtful reflection, I have come to the conclusion that the present circumstances are not ideal to set the grounds for my candidacy,” he wrote in a statement.

Sainz Sr. had been the only opposition to current FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem in December’s election.

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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

The Associated Press