The FIA has shared details of the now completed F1 structure ahead of the 2023 season after review under Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
Following the 2021 season when Sulayem took over as the FIA President, he talked about changes in his team to oversee the work being done in F1. The dramas of then needed a structure which would work in tandem to keep the sport running in efficient way.
He approved the two race directors idea and also had F1 create a team at its UK base to help those at the grands prix with extra set of eyes. Meanwhile, work carried on behind the scenes with regards to the base structure of competent personnel.
With the 2023 season just around the corner, the FIA has completed the structure announcing Nikolas Tombazis as the new Single-Seater Director, moving on from the leader of the technical team. He will have an expanded role overlooking at every department.
The Sporting, Technical, Financial and Strategy & Operations Directors will report to Tombazis going forward. Having worked with the Formula One Management for long, Steve Nielsen will join the FIA team as its new Sporting Director.
Nielsen is responsible for matters including the development of Race Control, Remote Operations Centre – the ones mentioned above – and also be the main person bringing changes to the Sporting Regulations, if any, going forward.
Replacing Tombazis as the technical director will be Tim Goss, who has been his deputy since the 2021 season. Federico Lodi will continue as the Financial Director after leading the team since its inception, while Francois Sicard is the Strategy & Operations Director.
It is a newly-created role where Sicard will be responsible for long-term strategic planning and look at key trackside activities and logistics. “We have dedicated a lot of time and effort to making significant, informed changes to our Formula 1 team to create the right structure with the right people to oversee the future regulation of the sport,” said Sulayem.
“By developing and empowering people within our organisation, as well as bringing in expertise and experience from the outside, I am confident that we are in the best position possible to move forward together with our partners at FOM and the Formula 1 teams.”
At the same time, Tombazis stated: “I am excited and honoured to be taking on this new position within the FIA, and very grateful to the President for the trust he is demonstrating towards me. We have a group of extremely talented and dedicated people who work flat out to deliver the level of regulation that Formula 1 demands and deserves, and I fully believe this new structure will take our resources to the next level and allow us to make continual improvements.”
And finally,Nielsen added: “I have spent my professional life working for many teams and organisations in Formula 1, and cannot wait to engage with another new chapter with the FIA. I’d like to thank both the President and Stefano Domenicali for their trust in me, and I understand and appreciate the unique challenges that come with being the regulator.
“Having worked closely with a number of people in the Federation over the years, I’m looking forward to tackling those challenges that lie ahead with them – Formula 1 is in a great place at the moment, and it’s our responsibility to ensure the future health of the sport that is at the heart of everything we do.”
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