Al-Attiyah questions FIA’s Sainz decision in Dakar: We are not in Formula 1

Dacia driver Nasser Al-Attiyah has questioned FIA’s determination to stop Ford rival Carlos Sainz Sr from finishing the 2025 Dakar Rally on security grounds.

Sainz Sr and Al-Attiyah’s team-mate Sebastien Loeb had been pressured out of Dakar firstly of this week after struggling harm to their roll cages in separate accidents.

That eradicated two of the pre-rally favourites from the Final class, leaving five-time winner Al-Attiyah to take care of simply Ford’s Mattias Ekstrom and Toyota duo Henk Lategan and Yazeed Al-Rajhi for the general victory.

In its reasoning, the FIA acknowledged that it can not assure the drivers could be protected contained in the cockpit in case of a repeat accident. It additionally defined why it could not permit producers to restore the chassis throughout the rally.

Nonetheless, Al-Attiyah wasn’t happy with the FIA’s rationalization, saying: “It isn’t killing the race, the issue is that the foundations usually are not clear. I need to race with all of the individuals, additionally Carlos [Sainz], Seb [Loeb], Laia [Sanz]. Why is Carlos not right here? No purpose.

“We will repair it, the workforce can repair it, why do you say, ‘OK, it is over’? We’re not in System 1, we’re in cross-country. What number of automobiles now [left?]. For those who go and test rigorously, do you discover any faults.”

The Qatari driver was additionally incensed by a 10-minute time penalty for dropping a spare wheel throughout Stage 5 on Thursday, robbing him of victory by only one second.

Stating his intention to put in writing a letter to the president of FIA president Mohammed ben Sulayem concerning the sanction, he mentioned: “I do not perceive it. To lose the tyres with the help [structure] after which the spectator finds the tyre with the help and also you get ten minutes. I do not settle for it. 

“However I am working to repair that complete downside as a result of that is not sport, we’ve to be honest. If I do it the unsuitable approach and drop the tyres, OK, I get ten minutes penalty, however we did not realise, we’ve to be honest, however I’ll make a superb letter to the [FIA] president, to keep away from all that.”

Al-Attiyah at present sits fourth within the total standings, half-hour down on Toyota rival Lategan, with six of the 12 phases nonetheless to run.

Regardless of having a sizeable deficit to beat, the 54-year-old mentioned he’s assured about his probabilities of recording one other win in Dakar and getting near Stephane Peterhansel’s report of eight wins within the automobiles class.

“I’ll win. I’ve little question,” he mentioned. Everybody desires to win, I’ve gained 5 instances already, however none of them have gained but. The following six days shall be tough for the three of us as a result of while you need to win, you begin to make numerous errors.

“The hole isn’t massive, it is seven minutes or ten minutes [between Lategan and Al-Rajhi]. It isn’t massive, and any mistake could make you lose.

“I am ready for the errors, and whereas I’ll make my technique for the following two days, after which the three days of dunes, if I am shut, I’ll go flat out.”