Category Sports News

Rally legend Carlos Sainz Sr is considering running for president of the FIA, motorsport’s governing body, in December’s election.

The 63-year-old two-time world champion told motorsport.com he was “in the process of figuring out how much support I will get in the community of motorsport”.

Sainz – who is also a four-time winner of the Dakar Rally, on which this year he was still competing – would be running against current FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, whose term in office since 2021 has been beset by controversy.

Ben Sulayem has not yet formally declared his intention to run again, but is known to be planning to. No other potential candidate has yet declared interest.

Sainz said: “This possibility has been in my mind for some time now, not very deeply, but now I think it could be the right time in my career for me to take the step.

” I’m confident I can do a good job and put together an excellent team to give back to the sport part of what it has given me.

“I have accumulated a lot of experience in this sport throughout the years and I’m certain I can bring new and interesting things, to strengthen and develop the sport and the automobile world”.

Sainz is widely regarded as a man of seriousness and integrity, as well as unquestionably an all-time great in his field. Sources say he is a consequential candidate and would have widespread support from within the sport.

Sainz said there would be no conflict of interest with the fact that his son Carlos is an active F1 driver with Williams.

“I have my track record and people know me well enough to understand that this will not be an issue”, Sainz said. “Obviously, I will have to step down regarding my role with Carlos and his career but this is not an issue at all.

” He’s not a child any more, he has been in F1 for a decade now and we both know that if I go ahead with this project our relationship will change, of course.

“The FIA is a very serious entity and there will be no conflict”.

Ben Sulayem suffered a blow to his presidency with the resignation of his deputy president for sport, Robert Reid, last month.

Reid quit citing “a fundamental breakdown in governance standards” within the FIA.

On the day Reid announced his resignation, the former FIA chief executive officer Natalie Robyn broke the silence she had maintained since being forced to resign last summer after 18 months in the role.

Robyn told BBC Sport the FIA had “serious ongoing structural challenges”, adding that “professional processes are not adhered to and stakeholders are excluded from decision-making”.

Robyn’s departure came after she raised questions about the general governance of the FIA and its professional practices, including finances in the president’s office.

Her departure was followed by the firing of the head of the audit committee Bertrand Badre, a former head of the World Bank, and audit committee member Tom Purves, a former BMW executive.

In November, Ben Sulayem fired FIA compliance officer Paolo Basarri, who in March last year looked into allegations that Ben Sulayem interfered in the operations of the Saudi Arabian and Las Vegas Grands Prix in 2023. Ben Sulayem was cleared following an investigation by the FIA’s ethics committee.

The FIA is currently the subject of legal action by Susie Wolff, the boss of the F1 Academy for aspiring female drivers, after a controversial conflict of interest inquiry into her and her husband, Toto Wolff, the boss of Mercedes motorsport.

Senior FIA figures have also raised concerns about Ben Sulayem’s decision to change the statutes of the governing body last year to reduce accountability.

And at last weekend’s Miami Grand Prix, Grand Prix Drivers ‘ Association director George Russell called for action rather than words from the FIA on the controversy over censures for swearing and criticising the governing body.

Arsenal made an offer to acquire Liam Delap, and Arsenal hope to extend William Saliba’s contract, leaving Emiliano Martinez’s chances at Aston Villa uncertain.

As they look to sign a supporting forward alongside a more in-depth and proven option, Arsenal have made an offer to Ipswich’s English international striker Liam Delap, 22. Transfers of football

Additionally, the Gunners have stepped up negotiations to extend France’s center-back’s contract, which has had ties to Real Madrid. The 24-year-old will not leave for a lower price when his contract expires in 2027 or when he will sign for a free transfer when his contract expires in 2027. (L’Equipe, via Get French Football News)

With Aston Villa looking to sign a new stopper in the summer transfer window, Emiliano Martinez’s future may be uncertain. (Mail)

This summer, Liverpool are prepared to sell Greece’s Kostas Tsimikas, 28. Football Insider

Patrik Schick, 29, a striker for the Czech Republic at Bayer Leverkusen, is wanted by Arsenal, Manchester United, and Chelsea this summer. (Caught Offside)

Dean Huijsen, 20, is a center-back from Spain and is in the best interest at Chelsea and Liverpool. (Teamtalk)

Manchester City faces 115 charges, which could continue into the following season despite uncertainty surrounding the outcome of the club’s final verdict. (i paper)

Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi is reportedly waiting for an answer from Al-Hilal, and the Saudi Pro League club could consider a move for Marco Silva if he is turned down. (Talksport)

Lloyd Kelly, 26, has made the number of appearances needed to convert his loan move from Newcastle United to Juventus. (Calciomercato – Italian)

In case Antonio Conte leaves the Napoli organization at the end of the season, owner Aurelio de Laurentiis has gotten in touch with former Juventus and AC Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri. (Tutomercatoweb – in Italian)

Two riders have been taken to hospital after an incident during the Supersport qualifying session on the first day of practice for the North West 200 on Wednesday.

Northern Ireland’s Gary McCoy was transported to hospital by ambulance while Englishman Craig Neve was taken from the circuit by air ambulance.

Neve has sustained significant injuries, but both his and McCoy’s injuries are not believed to be life threatening.

“Two riders were involved in an incident at Mill Road roundabout on the NW200 course six minutes into the Supersport qualifying session”, read a statement from race organisers.

“Both riders were injured in the incident and the on-course medical team attended the scene. The riders were subsequently transferred to hospital, one by road ambulance and the other by air ambulance”.

Red flags had been displayed to halt the Supersport session in the early stages of their practice and a lengthy delay ensued before the bikes were allowed back on the course to complete two laps before practice concluded for the day and the roads re-opened.

Earlier in the delay, the opening Superbike session was twice delayed by oil deposits on the circuit which required red flags to be displayed.

Further practice is scheduled to take place on Thursday, with roads closing from 09: 00 BST to 15: 00, followed by three scheduled races on Thursday evening.

The injuries to the riders at the event in Northern Ireland came two days after England’s Owen Jenner, 21, and New Zealander Shane Richardson, 29, were fatally injured when 11 riders crashed during the British Supersport Championship race at Oulton Park in Cheshire.