Will Sainz Jr. be an obstacle for Sainz Sr. as FIA president? Not for F1.

The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix is ​​the first public forum in which Carlos Sainz 's possible candidacy for the FIA ​​presidency has been the subject of initial assessments by the key players in the paddock . These non-voting opinions also fail to gauge the internal situation within the FIA. However, positive ones are cascading around the Spanish driver .

The unique dynamics of the FIA ​​electoral process justify Sainz's first move, namely, a public announcement assessing his options . Starting with the potential incompatibility with his son, a factor exploited by Mohamed Ben Sulayem , the current president. However, in public and especially behind the scenes, Formula 1's support is very strong. Hence, Sainz has taken the step. Ben Sulayem is also beginning to take it.

The courtship of Sainz

One of the potential objections to Sainz's candidacy is his son's presence in Formula 1 , and the current president could take advantage of this circumstance. Recently, news leaked that Ben Sulayem intends to submit a series of statutory revisions to the Assembly next month, including one stipulating that "there must be nothing in the history of candidates running for election as members of the presidential list that calls into question their professional integrity ." A direct hit on Carlos Sainz.

In principle, it seems that this wouldn't pose a problem in Formula 1. As Sainz Jr. acknowledged on Thursday, high-profile players have been exploring and courting Sainz Senior for several months now. Rumor has it that he will be targeting Liberty . "Interestingly, I think it's something that didn't come from him. Many people in the paddock were getting it into their heads, and little by little, he started considering it," explained the Williams driver.

Opposition to Ben Sulayem's management of Formula 1 and clashes with Liberty have led to the search for a viable alternative. When Sainz took the first plunge, the pool was half full. Now it needs to be completely full for the final leap. "Now, obviously, he's considering it. I think the key is that he hasn't formed a team or a candidacy yet. Depending on how he sees it and whether it's a good fit, he'll accept it or not ," explained Sainz, whose statements prior to the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix featured his father.

Family ties wouldn't be an issue for Sainz Jr. , as most in the paddock seem to think. "I've been thinking about possible scenarios where there could be a conflict of interest, but I honestly don't see how it could be that way . In any case, he'll be extremely careful, like me, because the last thing I want is for my image or his, or our career, to be damaged by that situation. So we would have the opposite effect, and I don't see any conflict."

The Williams driver concluded on a more personal note. "Well, there's the moment when you know my father or me personally. We're honest people; I would never compromise that situation in motorsport ."

Interestingly, it has been revealed at Imola that Anthony Hamilton , the Ferrari driver's father, is joining the FIA ​​as head of the Young Driver Development program, after working with the institution as an advisor in this field for a year and a half .

Jean Todt was once president of the FIA ​​after nearly a decade running Ferrari, where his son Nicolas was manager of a driver, Charles Leclerc , who was part of the Ferrari Academy and progressed to Formula 1 while his father was in charge. Today, Susi Wolff, Todt's wife, works for FOM (Formula One Management) as head of the F1 Academy. However, becoming a political rival of the president is a very different story.

"Carlos Senior is a very respected person in motorsport. Not just in Formula 1, and not just in rallying. He has a huge amount of experience in this world (of competition). Of course, he would be a fantastic candidate if that's what he wants . I was quite surprised at first, but on reflection, I think it makes a lot of sense," said George Russell.

The Briton also rejected the possibility of a conflict of interest. "Not at all, I don't see any conflict . If anything, I think it would only benefit the sport to have Carlos with the inside knowledge of Formula 1 from the drivers' perspective, and then Carlos Sr.'s knowledge of motorsport in general could be a brilliant formula."

Alonso: "He will always be a great candidate."

"Although some may think his position could generate conflict due to his son's involvement, I fully trust his professionalism in separating both sides . I think he would be a very good fit for this position," Max Verstappen supported on Thursday regarding Sainz Sr.'s potential candidacy. Days earlier, James Vowles was one of the first to jump into the fray, rejecting the Sainz family's relationship as an obstacle to his father's candidacy.

"What I've noticed with Carlos (senior) here, and I'm not sure if it's any different than before, is that he now recognizes his son as the master of his own business and doesn't actually interfere with anything," explained the Williams boss. "What he really enjoys is just watching the cars go around the track and knowing that he's the one who organized everything to make it happen. Obviously, he'll have to step back a lot further if he decides to go down the FIA ​​route, but I'm confident we can protect him enough that it won't be an issue ."

Fernando Alonso also expressed his support for Sainz , acknowledging that he had spoken with him personally about the issue. "It could be an innovative approach. But at the same time, this is a matter for the FIA. The entire sport needs to come together and see what happens. Obviously, he'll always be a great candidate because he knows what the sport needs from this side . That's what we drivers like."

"Now it's up to you"

The Asturian touched on a crucial point: the viability of the candidacy with the necessary and sufficient support within the FIA, something that Sainz Jr. also addressed on Thursday. "He's trying to understand how elections work, how many people he needs to talk to. He's evaluating the whole issue and trying to understand how it works . Now it's up to him."

After making his intentions public, Sainz begins a complex and lengthy process to gain internal support within the institution against a president, Mohamed Ben Sulayem, who is running for office after four years under his belt to strengthen his internal position by controlling the electoral process.

No incumbent president since Jean-Marie Balestre (1978 to 1991) has lost an election thanks to such control. The Frenchman fell to Max Mosley for the decisive support of Bernie Ecclestone . Carlos Sainz is currently enjoying significant external support behind the scenes. It will be another matter to translate this support within the FIA, but some recent movements, such as the resignation of Vice President Robert Reid , a representative of the British lobby , suggest that something is moving within the Federation ahead of the November elections.

The elections are held within the FIA ​​General Assembly , the institution's supreme body and composed of national sporting authorities and automobile clubs representing 245 organizations in 149 countries, both sporting and motorsports. A presidential candidate must present a list reflecting the support of members from different regions of the world present at the Assembly on both sides. Gaining that support is Carlos Sainz's mission from now on. Mohamed Ben Sulayem's mission is to fail to achieve it .