Sainz explains why he elected not to run in FIA presidential election against Mohammed Ben Sulayem

Two-time rally world champion Carlos Sainz Sr has revealed the reasons why he elected not to run in FIA presidential election against Mohammed Ben Sulayem later this year.

It emegered in May that two-time rally world champion Carlos Sainz Sr had been considering whether to become a candidate against incumbent Mohammed Ben Sulayem in the FIA presidential election later this year.

Ben Sulayem is yet to officially be opposed for the election, which takes place later this year on December 12 at the FIA general assembly in Uzbekistan.

However, the Spaniard announced this week that he pulled out of the race to become the next FIA president, leaving Ben Sulayem with an uncontested election for a second term.

Explaining his decision on Instagram, Sainz noted: "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.

"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.

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

"Furthermore, I have realised that properly running for president would notably compromise my preparation for the Dakar and I do not wish to weaken my commitment to Ford and my team. These concerns have therefore inclined me to be realistic and desist from my FIA endeavour for now.

Sainz continued: "Despite stepping down from this race, my passion for serving and leading within the motorsport world hasn't changed and I still believe the organisation needs important changes, which I remain genuinely hopeful will be tackled in the upcoming years,".

"Both racing and mobility have been my life and I will closely follow future developments with great interest. I will always support my sport and try to contribute in all meaningful ways to improve mobility for road users around the world.

"Finally, I want to sincerely thank you all for the messages of support, encouragement and advice I have received during the past weeks. They have reinforced my confidence to continue striving towards my present and future goals."