Peter Bayer took over as FIA Secretary General for Sport in 2017, overseeing all activities of the FIA Sport Department, from karting to F1, as well as working closely with member clubs around the world.
The Austrian became F1’s chief executive at the end of 2021, shortly before the controversial end of the season in Abu Dhabi, to oversee the FIA’s operations in the series.
In a statement issued by the international federation on Wednesday, the body announced that Bayer had stepped down.
“The International Automobile Federation announces the departure of Peter Bayer, who has served as Secretary General for Sport since 2017 and also as Chief Executive Officer of F1 since 2021,” the statement said.
“The FIA warmly thanks him for the achievements he has brought to the development of motor sport over the past five years. In particular, he has overseen, together with the Sporting Division, the construction of the single-seater pyramid from karting to F1, the creation of the new World Rally-Raid Championship, as well as the improvement of safety and sustainability in all disciplines.The FIA wishes him all the best for the future.”
As part of his duties, Bayer was tasked with overseeing the investigation into the events in Abu Dhabi, where Lewis Hamilton lost the F1 title to Max Verstappen on the last lap restart, after former race director Michael Masi failed to apply at least two articles of the sports regulations.
Following the election of new chairman Mohammed ben Sulayem , the FIA has restructured its operations in F1, including the appointment of two alternate role race directors and the introduction of a new virtual race control room.
The governing body has recently appointed former DAMS CEO Francois Sicard as its new single-seater sporting director as part of its restructuring, in a role that has stood between Bayer and F1’s other key figures within the federation.
The FIA confirmed that Bayer would be replaced on an interim basis by Shaila-Ann Rao , who previously spent two years with the FIA as Legal Director and has recently rejoined the organisation. At the end of 2018, Rao left the FIA to join Mercedes as general counsel before becoming special adviser to Toto Wolff in January 2021.
