Ben Sulayem set to be elected unopposed after Sainz drops out of FIA presidency race

Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s chances of being re-elected unopposed as president of motor racing’s world governing body increased on Wednesday when Spaniard Carlos Sainz Sr said he would not be standing for the FIA top job.

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The 63-year-old double world rally champion, four-times Dakar winner and father of the Williams Formula One driver of the same name, said in May he was considering running against the Emirati in the December election.

The decision not to go ahead will allow him to compete again in the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia with Ford next January, something he said he did not want to miss.

There is currently no other declared candidate beyond Ben Sulayem.

"Hi everyone. This message is to publicly confirm that I have finally decided not to run for the presidency of the FIA in this year's election," Sainz said on X.

"I have worked hard these past months to understand in depth the situation at the FIA and the demands and complexities that come with such an important project," he added.

"After a thoughtful reflection, I have come to the conclusion that the present circumstances are not ideal to set the grounds for my candidacy."

Sainz's son is a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association and the older Spaniard has dismissed suggestions there would be a conflict of interest if he was elected FIA president.