In the midst of another wave of high-profile departures from the FIA, GPDA director George Russell has called for the governing body to provide drivers with greater clarity and communication regarding their decisions.
Russell's reaction comes after the surprise dismissal this week of F2 race director Janette Tan and senior F1 steward Tim Mayer ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix, adding to a growing list of recent personnel changes, including the still unexplained removal two weeks ago of former F1 race director Niels Wittich.
The FIA's decision to dismiss Tan, who was set to oversee the final rounds of the Formula 2 season, means current F1 race director Rui Marques will temporarily assume expanded responsibilities.
Mayer's departure was reportedly rooted in a disagreement with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem over the handling of the track invasion incident at the US Grand Prix and the subsequent fine levied upon the COTA organisers.
The Grand Prix Drivers Association – which recently penned a yet unanswered open letter to Ben Sulayem pleading for more respect – has been perplexed by the FIA's decisions.
Russell emphasized the importance of consistency and transparency, suggesting that the lack of communication around such important personnel changes is unsettling for drivers and teams alike.
“I mean, just when we've asked for, let's say, a bit of transparency and consistency, we're getting rid of two highly important people in the governing body,” Russell commented on Thursday in Qatar.
“So it's kind of gone in a full 360. We still don't have any reasoning for Niels' removal. “I don't think anybody was informed about Tim leaving, and the first I heard about the new race director doing Formula 2 this weekend as well was through the media.”
Russell noted that constant personnel changes within any organization can create instability, which he believes could impact the FIA's ability to effectively manage the sport. I have called for the FIA to provide clear explanations and outline its future plans to avoid uncertainty.
“Naturally, in any organization, if you've got people leaving or a change of personnel, it is never going to be a stable environment, and people have to learn the new rules,” added the Mercedes driver.
“That's very challenging for any team and it must be super challenging for everyone within the FIA right now.
“We'd love to get a little bit of clarity and understanding of what's going on and, you know, who's getting fired next.”
The dismissals of Tan and Mayer are part of a broader pattern of uprising at the FIA.
Over the past year, several senior figures have left the organization, including its first CEO Natalie Robyn, director of communications Luke Skipper, and secretary general of mobility Jacob Bangsgaard. Sporting director Steve Nielsen and single-seater technical director Tim Goss also resigned, alongside Deborah Mayer, the head of the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission.
These changes come at a time when Formula 1, under the stewardship of Liberty Media, is thriving. Russell expressed hope that the FIA's internal challenges would not derail the sport's momentum.
“Definitely when it comes to the FIA, so much is changing: too much is changing and too quickly,” said the Briton.
“I think everyone has faith in Liberty and faith in Stefano [Domenicali]. You know, he was a racer and he's got racing in his blood. So he's doing everything he can to get the sport in the best place possible.
“I think the only concern for all of us is that sport is in such a great place. Everyone's trying their best for the teams, and Liberty and Stefano have done such a great job.
“We just need to make sure that the sport stays in this position or continues to grow. And the only thing with all of this change, I hope it's not going to have a negative impact.”
As F1 continues to soar in global popularity, the FIA's role in maintaining fairness, consistency, and safety on and off the track remains critical.
Russell's remarks highlight the need for a stable and transparent governing body to ensure the sport's continued success.
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