The 2021 Formula 1 season was the trigger for the FIA to begin a process of remodeling its structure. The departure of Michael Masi from the position of race director of the highest category of motorsport ended up being the biggest move, but not the only one.
The change in the head of the organizational chart, from Jean Todt to Mohammed ben Sulayem as president, meant a change in mentality in the international federation, and the Emirati was clear about his plans from the beginning.
After appointing Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas as substitutes for Masi after the controversy at the end of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the new head of the organization indicated that all his efforts would be dedicated to improving the functioning of the FIA in Formula 1, in addition of in the rest of the competitions.
However, ben Sulayem is aware that getting the organization right will take time, as full effectiveness cannot be achieved in just a few months. In recent weeks, he indicated that he would study training rally co-drivers to perform the functions of race director in Formula 1, although that is not all.
The president of the FIA, despite the fact that he has modified the functions that the directors of the great prizes are in charge of and has created a virtual support room in Geneva , said that his project is long-term.
“It all starts with my role, the federation must be big enough to allow the sport to continue to grow without being tied to one person,” ben Sulayem said. “We have a lot of tasks ahead of us, Formula 1 is a big challenge in itself.”
“The drivers wanted me to solve the race control problem, but I can’t Google or buy new directors on Amazon, they need years of experience and careful training,” he insisted.
“I will come back with my rally experience, and there was a rotation with the co-drivers, so putting one in would not be a bad thing,” the international federation president said. “Formula 1 needs a lot more diversity, this was one of the reasons why a virtual control room with race management support was created in Geneva.”
One of the likely candidates for the much-criticized post of race director in motorsport’s top flight in recent months is Ronnie Søgård Andersen , who at 34 won the Charlie Whiting Award after an “extensive test” in which “demonstrated knowledge and skills at the national and international level.”
This award is quite an opportunity for the Dane, who wins integers to ascend to the position, although the president of the FIA said that they would face an intense process to make people like Andersen race directors in Formula 1.
“Future directors will be trained in Geneva,” he explained. “We will have achieved three goals at once, training, more practice for race judges and more experience in an emergency.”
