The FIA has completed an extensive revamp of its F1 department’s staffing structure, following a review of internal procedures initiated by president Mohammed Ben Sulayem at the start of 2022.
Ben Sulayem commented, “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. By developing and empowering people within our organization, 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.”
Nikolas Tombazis, who has led the FIA’s Formula 1 technical team since 2018 and overseen the development and implementation of the 2022 regulations overhaul, will take on the role of FIA single-seater director.
Reporting to Tombazis will be the sporting, technical, financial, and strategy and operations directors. Former FOM man Steve Nielsen (previously sporting director at Caterham, Toro Rosso and Williams) will join the FIA as sporting director, responsible for overseeing all sporting matters including the ongoing development of race control and the remote operations center, as well as future updates to the sporting regulations.
Tim Goss will take on the role of technical director previously held by Tombazis, having worked in a deputy role since the start of the 2021 season. Meanwhile, Federico Lodi, who has led the FIA’s financial regulations team since its inception, becomes the Formula 1 financial director.
Finally, former FIA sporting director François Sicard will take on a newly created position as Formula 1 strategy and operations director, responsible for long-term strategic planning and key trackside activities and logistics.
Remarking on his revised role, Tombazis said, “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.”
