FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem says he would be happy if Carlos Sainz Sr stands against him in the nex❀t elections in December.

Two-time WRC champion Sainz Sr is conඣsidering running for the FIA presiden🐼t and taking on a role in running the sport after spending more t༺han four decades competinꦫg as a rally driver in both the short and long-distance format.

The Spaniard is so far the only driv🧸er to show interest in standing in the next election🌳s against incumbent Bel Sulayem, who took over the reins from Jean Todt in 2021.

While Sainz Sr’s potential bid has already received widespread support from senior figures in motorsport, Ben Sulayem said he would have no qualms if the 63-year-old💫 puts forward his name in the next presidential elections.

"Let him stand. That is democ🐷racy," he told Reuters.

Ben Sulayem aiming for second term

Ben Sulayem also confirmed that he will stand for a second four-year term at the FIA from 2025 to 2029 after speaking to other members of motorspor𝔉t’s governing body.

The Emirati said he was sat♑isfied with what he has achieved at the FIA so far🍌 and wants to build on the work he has put in since 2021.

"I feel having three years🐎 in a complex federation like the FIA is not enough,” he said.

"Do I n🍒eed more time? Yes. Has it been easy? Never. Has it been enjoyable? S♔ometimes.

"So, I 🌜am going (to stand). I consulted with most of the members. I🅠 speak to them."

“[I want to] keep growing motorspor𒉰t. To make the FIA stronger and stronger. This is my ambition and that's what I will do.".

FඣIA🍬 returned to profit for the first time in five years in the financial year 2024-25, reporting an operating result of €4.7m.

FIA’s biggest asset is Formula 1, the commercial rights of whic𝓀h have been leased out to Liberty Media.

F1 gen♕erates more than three billion dollars in revenue every year and is a highly profitableಞ business.

"Raw deals have been given to the FIA. It doesn't make sense to me that one [Formula One] driver and one team principal make𒊎 more money than all of the FIA, and the FIA owns the championship. Is that fair?," said Ben Sulayem.

Bel Sulayem’s time at the ཧFIA has been marre🐼d by a number of controversies, with people both within the federation and outside unhappy with some of his style of governance.

Several key staff members left the FIA in recent years due to 💮their apparent displeasure at Ben Sulayem’s way of working, including sporting director Steve Nielsen, single-seater technical director Tim Goss and CEO Natalie Rob🌺yn.

Its deputy🎐 president for sport Robert Reid also resigned in April due to what he described as a “fundamentಞal breakdown in governance standards within motorsport's global governing body”.

The only positive change was the return of former senior executive Shaila-Ann Rao, who has rejoined as an advisor to Ben Sul🌃ayem.

Speaking about the recent reshuffle in staff, Bಌen Sulayem said: “I cleaned up the FIA house.

"Honest people are th🌺ere. My back is not anymore with knives in it.

"All of this negativity; 'Oh, he's unpredictable, he's v🐲ery controversial'. I am the last one who cares what they [the critics and media] 🔯do, what they say. To me, it is always about the [FIA] members.

"But I am more than haﷺppyಌ. Maybe I am doing something that irritates them."