Mohammed Ben Sulayem thinks Carlos Sainz Sr. ‘does not understand’ what the FIA presidency entails. Last year, the rally driver and father of Williams driver Carlos Sainz showed interest in the position of the Emirati. To the great disappointment of many F1 fans – who have fallen out of favor with Ben Sulayem – Sainz Sr. decided not to run, partly because the FIA had made his candidacy impossible.
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Although several candidates had come forward for the presidency, only Ben Sulayem was actually able to stand for election. According to the FIA statutes, all candidates had to form a team of seven vice presidents, collectively representing all world regions. However, for South America, only one person was eligible: Fabiana Ecclestone, a loyal ally of Ben Sulayem. Thus, Sainz Sr. could not submit his candidacy either. “I have come to the conclusion that the current circumstances are not ideal for me to run,” he responded at the time.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem: ‘Get nothing in return’
The Spanish-language newspaper AS recently spoke again with Ben Sulayem about Sainz Sr.’s interest in the presidency. “Carlos Sainz is a good friend, but I think he doesn’t understand it,” the Emirati responded. “He knows the FIA and the sport better than anyone, of course, but the presidency of the International Federation is not just about sport. It’s also about mobility, about meetings with business and with 245 members from around the world. It’s 365 days a year of non-stop work without getting anything in return.”
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“I had already worked for ten years in my country’s federation and already knew how difficult this role was, because you have to work day and night,” Ben Sulayem concluded. This year he came under fire again because he had the FIA statutes changed so that there is no longer a limit on the number of terms a president may serve. Meanwhile, he is increasingly consolidating power within the organization, making it conceivable that he will remain in charge of the FIA for many years to come.
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