As revealed last month, Francois Sicard has been brought on to take on a new role as part of the response to the controversial finish of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The former DAMS team principal will leave his role with the French organization next Monday, having fulfilled his contract for the last six weeks.
The position of FIA sporting director was until now one of several positions held by Michael Masi . But the job description has been revamped, leaving Sicard in a position between the head of the FIA’s single-seater department, Peter Bayer , and the main players in Formula 1.
His responsibilities at the Grand Circus will include drafting and updating the sporting regulations, as well as controlling the races and the commissaire system on behalf of the international federation. His work will also cover similar ground in the lower categories, namely F2, F3 and F4.
Sicard has not worked directly in Formula 1 before, but has been involved with a number of drivers who subsequently graduated to the top flight, as well as being in contact with the teams that selected his protégés at DAMS .
Graduated in business, the Frenchman began working in the motor world in 2001, when he joined Renault after 10 years doing marketing functions at the French manufacturer. He was involved in the creation of the World Series by Renault , managing the championship until the end of its third season in 2007, and working with drivers such as Sebastian Vettel and Robert Kubica.
He joined Oak Racing LMP2 as Managing Director in 2007, before moving to DAMS in January 2012 in a similar role. In the last decade he has helped the team win titles in several important categories.
Davide Velsecchi was crowned in GP2 in 2012, while Jolyon Palmer added another championship in 2014. Already under the current F2 regulations, the team’s best result was the second place achieved by Nicholas Latifi in 2019.
Kevin Magnussen won the Formula Renault 3.5 Series title with DAMS in 2013, and Carlos Sainz repeated the feat the following year. The e.DAMS structure has also won three Formula E team titles under Sicard .
