The build-up to Formula 1's British Grand Prix could be decisive in framing whether this year's FIA presidential election will be a one-horse race – as potential rivals to Mohammed Ben Sulayem close in on a final decision about whether to stand.
Ben Sulayem, the FIA's current president, had looked on course to be unopposed for a second term in the top job of motor racing's governing body after last week's announcement by Carlos Sainz Sr that he was not going to see through on potentially standing.
Sainz felt that as well as a presidential bid compromising his commitments to the Dakar Rally, the task of trying to pull together an election campaign was something that he did not have scope to do right now.
Posting on social media, he wrote: "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."
But despite Sainz withdrawing from the presidential fight, sources have indicated to The Race that other candidates are still weighing up what to do – with there believed to be two separate groups pondering their next steps.
One senior source with good knowledge of the situation confirmed that there were "a couple of bids that are active right now."
In the shadows
While these potential candidates have not adopted Sainz's stance in going public that they are considering standing, they have been working behind the scenes to evaluate whether an FIA presidential bid would have any chance of success.
This relates not only to being able to attract the worldwide support from FIA member clubs that would be needed to win the election, but also being able to pull together what is known as "the list" of senior figures that would join them in key positions.
These 10 individuals that must be appointed include the president of the Senate, deputy presidents for mobility and sport, plus seven vice-precidents for the World Motor Sport Council.
No individual is allowed to stand on more than one ticket, which means any rival to Ben Sulayem would need to secure support from those willing to go public in their opposition to the current president.
While work on this front has gone on behind the scenes for months, now appears to be crunch time to decide whether to push on or leave the way clear for Ben Sulayem to stand unopposed.
Although a deadline for election candidates to officially throw their hat into the ring does not come until October 24 for the December 12 vote, the reality of pulling together the kind of support needed to win the election means that campaigns would have to start much earlier.
It is also widely accepted that due to the complexities of standing for the election, that there is only room for a single candidate to stand as opposition.
So the first one that decides to go for it would likely then face a simple head-to-head contest with Ben Sulayem.
Should any of the potential candidates decide to go ahead with a formal election campaign over the next few days, then an announcement could come as early as this weekend's British Grand Prix – with key figures understood to be travelling to Silverstone.
Drivers' viewpoint
Sainz Sr's decision not to run as president left some within F1 disappointed that it appeared to make this year's election a non-event.
F1 drivers in particular have been pushing for the FIA and Ben Sulayem to live up to promises of greater transparency and a more open dialogue between them and the governing body.
Carlos Sainz Jr, who is a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA) said in Austria last weekend that he felt there were issues that still needed to be resolved.
Asked if he was disappointed about his father's decision, the Williams driver said: "As his son, no. As a motorsport fan, yes.
"I think many motorsport people would've liked to see my dad giving it a go and seeing what he could have done for the sport.
"But as his son and after evaluating a bit also with him all the things he had to get involved with, and had to take care of to confirm and to have any possibility of running for that presidency, I think I understand why he's not doing it and why he's letting it go and focusing on his own stuff."
Asked what he felt was needed to change, Sainz said: "Well, I think there's no secret that drivers, we've felt over the last few years that there's been a bit of a lack of transparency and a lack of understanding with the main governance of the FIA.
"And even though the intentions might have been good sometimes, and the way the FIA were trying to do things might have always been within the best spirit, I felt like drivers have been always a bit left out, and sometimes our opinions were not listened to enough.
"There's sometimes been corrections, and we felt there's been a good reaction to those corrections. But clearly other times we haven't felt that way and we've made it very clear with our statements. I can only see a way forward and getting better because this year has certainly been frustrating for the most part."
Ben Sulayem made a move last week to increase transparency in relation to the drivers when he agreed to publish the F1's stewards penalty guidelines and driving standards guidelines that act as racing rules.
The move was widely welcomed by F1 stars, with Sainz's fellow GPDA director George Russell expressing hopes that this marked the start of a new chapter of openness and co-operation.
"Of course there's been no secret of some of the challenges we've faced among this time," he said.
"I just hope if he's re-elected and continues, that there can be a greater dialogue between us as drivers and the FIA. A bit more transparency and ultimately if we can all be, almost on the same team, pushing in the same direction.
"Whereas at the moment, it feels like there's a bit of battle between drivers, F1 and FIA."
