Max Papis has confirmed that the 2026 season will be his last as head of referees for IndyCar. The 57-year-old Italian made this announcement via social media, thus concluding an 11-year phase in the control of IndyCar races.
Papis, who had a remarkable career as a driver, with seven races in Formula 1, three victories in IndyCar, and several participations in NASCAR, made the jump to officiating after his retirement.
His announcement comes just a month after IndyCar confirmed extensions for members of the Independent Officiating Board (IOB), which includes prominent figures such as Ray Evernham and Scot Elkins, who will continue overseeing race control starting in 2027.
In his message to the driver community, Papis expressed his gratitude and noted that he has approached this responsibility as a project, aiming to build trust between race control and competitors. He emphasized that his priority has always been the well-being of the sport and safety.
Finally, Papis left an emotional statement, thanking the drivers for their trust and hoping to have left the sport in a better position than when he arrived.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
