Just in:FIA release official statement over DISQUALIFICATION as..read more
FIA release official statement over DISQUALIFICATION as..read more
The FIA has issued an official statement regarding the disqualification of two prominent figures from the 2025 Dakar Rally, including Red Bull star Carlos Sainz Sr. Following his fourth victory in the 2024 Dakar Rally, Sainz entered the 2025 event with high expectations. The legendary motorsport athlete, at 62 years old, holds two World Rally Championship titles and made history in 2023 by becoming the oldest-ever winner of the Dakar Rally. His remarkable career also saw him recently make his debut in a Ferrari Formula 1 car, where he drove around the Fiorano track alongside his son, Carlos Sainz Jr., in a gesture from Ferrari after they replaced him with Lewis Hamilton.
Sainz, having come off his win in 2024, faced a setback in the 2025 event after an accident on the second stage of the rally. The incident caused extensive damage to his Ford Raptor’s roll cage, and while Sainz finished the stage, the FIA informed him and fellow competitor, nine-time World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb, that they would not be allowed to continue in the race. Loeb had experienced a similar accident during the third stage. Both drivers were disqualified from the event due to the severity of the damage to their vehicles.
The FIA’s cross-country director, Jerome Rousel, explained the rationale behind the disqualifications. According to the FIA, any car involved in an accident during a stage must undergo an inspection by the race’s commissaries before any repairs are allowed. The roll cage, a critical safety feature of the vehicle, must remain intact after an accident. If the roll cage is damaged, the car cannot continue in the race.
Rousel clarified that while it is technically possible to repair a damaged roll cage, such repairs are extremely difficult to carry out in the remote areas of the rally, where resources are limited. For a repair to be considered valid, the damaged part of the roll cage must be replaced with an identical piece. Simply welding over cracks or adding material to the damaged section is not permitted, as it would compromise the structural integrity and safety of the car. This is a long-standing rule in motorsport that has been enforced for many years.
The FIA official went on to explain that the disqualification of Sainz, Loeb, and Laia Sanz, who also suffered similar issues with her vehicle, was due to this essential regulation. The roll cage’s integrity is crucial for the driver’s safety, and once it is damaged, the car cannot be deemed compliant with the homologation standards required to continue in the race. Rousel emphasized that this is a rule that applies uniformly across all championships, ensuring the safety of all competitors.
Sainz’s disqualification marks a disappointing end to what had been a promising start to the 2025 Dakar Rally, and for many fans, it is a bitter moment in what is considered one of the most challenging and prestigious motorsport events in the world. However, the FIA’s strict adherence to safety regulations highlights the importance of maintaining a high standard of care in the sport, even in the face of such setbacks.
While Sainz’s rally career took a hit, the FIA’s statement underlines the commitment to ensuring that the sport remains safe and fair for all participants. The disqualification of high-profile drivers like Sainz and Loeb serves as a reminder of the risks involved in motorsport and the importance of strict safety protocols. Despite the early exit, Sainz’s legacy in the sport remains intact, and he is likely to continue being a prominent figure in motorsport for years to come.
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