According to Motorsport.com, key figures within motorsport have approached Sainz, encouraging him to challenge the current president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, in the next election.
Sainz, 63, is the father of current F1 driver Carlos Sainz and is said to be seriously considering a campaign. Sources indicate he would aim to present a “positive and constructive program,” offering FIA delegates an alternative vision for the organisation’s future.
Ben Sulayem, also 63 and a former rally driver, has led the FIA since 2021 following Jean Todt’s 12-year tenure. The next presidential election is expected later this year, although no official date has been confirmed.
Sainz’s potential bid comes amid mounting dissatisfaction with Ben Sulayem’s leadership. His term has been plagued by controversy, including the resignation of deputy president Robert Reid, who cited a “breakdown in governance standards” and decision-making without due process. Other high-profile disputes have included barred council members, driver backlash over speech restrictions, and past comments resurfacing that sparked criticism.
Ben Sulayem was also cleared in an investigation into alleged race result interference and faced legal pressure after a short-lived inquiry into Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff and his wife, Susie. That claim was dropped after all other teams issued a rare joint rebuke.