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

Two-time WRC champion Sainz Sr is considering run🌄ning for the FIAꦇ president and taking on a role in running the sport af𒈔ter spending more than four decades competing as a rally driver in both the short and long-distance format.

The Spaniard is so far the only driver to show interest in standingꦐ in the next elections against incumbent Bel Sulayem, who took over the reins from Jean Todt in 2021.

While Sainz Sr’s potential bid has already receiveౠd 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 democra🔥cy," 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 speakingඣ to other members of motorsport’s governing body.

The Emirati said he was satisfied 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 federaꦅtion like the FIA is not enough,” hꦡe said.

"Do I need more time? Yes. Has it been easy? Never. Has it been enjoౠyable? Sometimes.

"So, I am going (to stand). I consulted with most of the members. I s꧙peak to them."

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

FIA returned to profit for the first time in five years in the financial year 2024-25, rep🔜orting an operating result of €4.7m.

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

F1 𒁃generates more than three billion dollars♉ in revenue every year and is a highly profitable business.

"Ra🎀w deals have been given to the FIA. It doesn't make sense to me that one [Formula One] driver and one team prꦅincipal make 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 FIA has been marred by a number of controversies, withꩲ people both within the federation and outside unhappy with some of his style of governan🍸ce.

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

Its d🧸eputy president for sport Rജobert Reid also resigned in April due to what he described as a “fundamental breakdown in governance standards within motorsport's global gover♊ning body”.

The only positive change was the return of former senior executive Shaila-Ann Rao, wh🐭o has rejoined as an advisor to Ben Sulay💧em.

Speaking about the recent reshuffle in sta🍎ff, Ben Sulayem said: “I cleaned up the FIA house.

"Honest peop🦹le are 🐻there. My back is not anymore with knives in it.

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

"But I am mﷺore than happy. Maybe I am 🐷doing something that irritates them."