Formula 1: Seniormost F1 figure leaves FIA and is replaced by former special advisor of Toto Wolff: Peter Bayer, the senior-most figure in Formula 1 will be departing the sport, and he will be replaced on an interim basis by Shaila-Ann Rao. Bayer was the secretary-general and recently delegated head of single-seater matters in the FIA’s F1 association. Follow Formula 1 Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
Announcing the veteran’s departure, the FIA released a statement that said, “the achievements he has contributed to the development of motorsport over the last five years.”
Formula 1: Senior most F1 figure leaves FIA, replaced by former SPECIAL ADVISOR of Mercedes boss Toto Wolff – Check Details
Meanwhile, Shaila Ann-Rao was the FIA’s legal director from mid-2016 to the end of 2018. However, what has made this announcement more interesting is that of late, Rao was functioning consecutively as General Counsel and then Special Advisor to Mercedes’ team principal Toto Wolff.
The FIA announces the departure of Peter Bayer and the interim appointment of Shaila-Ann Rao https://t.co/Q0r9ZubaMX
— FIA (@fia) June 1, 2022
Directly following the FIA’s misusing of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which controversially modified the result of the race and title, new FIA president Mohammed bin Sulayem regulated various changes.
Sulayem gave the task to Bayer to ‘review and optimize the organization of the FIA F1 structure’ for the 2022 season. He then brought in replacements for the race director Michael Masi. Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas were appointed and given the role of race director on a rotational basis.
🚨 | BREAKING: Michael Masi will no longer be F1 race director.
The new race directors are Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas.
— FormulaRacers (@formularacers_) February 17, 2022
Meanwhile, a new ROC ‘remote operations centre’ was also made and the working of ROC was done from FIA’s Geneva headquarters. However, there has been a developing difference inside F1 toward the beginning of the new period introduced by bin Sulayem.
Formula 1: Senior most F1 figure leaves FIA, replaced by former SPECIAL ADVISOR of Mercedes boss Toto Wolff – Check Details
Fines for drivers wearing jewellery will be fined or banned for a race, disarray around how the beginning of the Monaco Grand Prix was taken care of, and the difference between the FIA and F1 over expanding the number of sprint races next season – these are factors which have contributed towards the internal rift.
Senior figures inside F1 have even begun to secretly address whether the FIA’s job in the running of the title should be downsized.
Formula 1: Senior most F1 figure leaves FIA, replaced by former SPECIAL ADVISOR of Mercedes boss Toto Wolff – Check Details
