Carlos Sainz Jr dismisses concerns over conflict of interest in his father's possible bid to become FIA president
Carlos Sainz Sr has confirmed he is considering candidacy for the FIA presidential election later this year; Williams driver Carlos Sainz Jr says there would be no conflict of interest; watch Emilia Romagna GP practice on Friday at 12.30pm and 4pm, live on Sky Sports F1
Thursday 15 May 2025 17:23, UK
Williams driver Carlos Sainz Jr has dismissed suggestions there would be a conflict of interest if his father were to become FIA president.
Former World Rally champion Carlos Sainz Sr confirmed last week he is considering candidacy for December's election, which would see him run against incumbent Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
It has been put to both father and son that having the former as FIA president, while the latter is an active participant in Formula 1 - one of the categories motorsport's governing body oversees - would represent a conflict of interest.
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Speaking ahead of this weekend's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Sainz Jr told Sky Sports F1: "Very simply because my dad and me, we would part ways. He would not be my manager anymore.
"I'm a 30-year-old Formula 1 driver that also has his manager, my cousin. We would just simply stop.
"Whoever knows my dad or knows me personally, knows we would never do anything that would mean conflict of interest."
'A lot of people in the paddock suggested he should do it'
Sainz Jr was keen to emphasise that his dad had been encouraged by "a lot of people in the paddock" to run for the role.
He said: "First of all, it's a possibility, it's not that he's going to present himself for sure, or he's going to become a candidate. He's just considering it.
"To be honest, it also didn't come much from him. It came from a lot of people in the paddock suggesting it to him and putting the idea in his head, and he started considering it.
"He's going to obviously evaluate his options, his candidature and his possibilities. I can only say from being his son and being obviously a big fan of his, I think he fits the profile very well.
"I think no one understands motorsport better than my dad across so many ranges, from rallying, to go-karting - because he came with me to all the go-kart races - to all the single-seater ladder, to Formula 1 now.
"He has quite a broad experience of everything, including mobility with everything that he does in Spain.
"He definitely fits the profile but it's going to be up to him whether he thinks he's fit to consider to be a candidate or not."
What do Sainz's fellow drivers say?
Several of F1's leading drivers were also asked about Sainz Sr's potential candidacy at Imola on Thursday.
George Russell, who is a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association - a body which issued a strongly-worded public letter last November calling on Ben Sulayem to treat them like adults amid a clampdown from the FIA on swearing - said: "Carlos Sr, he's a great guy.
"He's got so much knowledge of motorsport. I've not personally spoken to him, I briefly spoke with Carlos Jr, but let's see. You've got to give it to him, it could be something good."
World champion Max Verstappen, a former team-mate of Carlos Jr at Toro Rosso, added: "I think Carlos Sr, he's a very well-respected person in the paddock here but also for his achievements in rally.
"A lot of people would support that. Naturally, people will say, 'ah, but he's conflicted with his son in Formula 1.' But, to be honest, I think Carlos Sr is very professional and he can definitely put that aside. I don't think we need to worry about that, if that's a problem for someone."
Sky Sports F1's Emilia Romagna GP schedule
Friday May 16
8.50am: F3 Practice
10am: F2 Practice
12pm: Emilia Romagna GP Practice One (session starts at 12.30pm)
2pm: F3 Qualifying
2.55pm: F2 Qualifying
3:40pm: Emilia Romagna GP Practice Two (session starts at 4pm)
5.15pm: The F1 Show
Saturday May 17
9am: F3 Sprint
11:15am: Emilia Romagna GP Practice Three (session starts at 11.30am)
1.10pm: F2 Sprint
2.10pm: Emilia Romagna GP Qualifying build-up
3pm: EMILIA ROMAGNA GP QUALIFYING*
5pm: Ted's Qualifying Notebook
Sunday May 18
7.25am: F3 Feature Race
8.55am: F2 Feature Race
12:30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Emilia Romagna GP build-up
2pm: The EMILIA ROMAGNA GRAND PRIX
4pm: Chequered Flag: Emilia Romagna GP reaction
5pm: Ted's Notebook
*Also live on Sky Sports Main Event
F1's European season begins with the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime
