F1 News: FIA chief ‘FIRED’ as presidential crisis deepens

FIA, Ben Sulayem, socials — Photo: © IMAGO

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FIA chief ‘FIRED’ as presidential crisis deepens

Paolo Basarri has left his role at the FIA

Sam Cook Digital Journalist

Sports Journalist who has been covering motorsport since 2023

Thursday 14 November 2024 18:12

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Another key figure from within the FIA has left his position, with reports suggesting that he was fired from the role.

Paolo Basarri was the compliance officer for Formula 1's governing body, but joins race director Niels Wittich in leaving his role this week.

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The pair's departures follow a number of key departures throughout 2024, with somewhat of a mass exodus taking place within the FIA.

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem's leadership has suffered some huge criticism of late, not least because of his body's public swearing row with three-time F1 world champion Max Verstappen.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem is the FIA president

Niels Wittich left his role as FIA race director earlier this week

FIA mass exodus continues in high-profile departure

Ben Sulayem was also investigated and cleared earlier this year of alleged race interference, and allegedly pressuring stewards into making certain decisions.

As compliance officer, Basarri was responsible for filing a report about Ben Sulayem's alleged misdemeanours, following whistleblower accusations.

Now, Basarri becomes the latest in a long string of high-profile departures from F1's governing body.

BBC Sport are reporting that the Italian has been fired as a consequence of FIA president Ben Sulayem 'losing confidence' in him.

Speculation surrounding Wittich's departure led the former race director to reveal that he had not resigned as official FIA statements had suggested, and was instead fired from his position.

Rumours surrounding Ben Sulayem's position as head of the organisation have been swirling for some time, following a Grand Prix Drivers' Association statement against his use of certain words to describe drivers, and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton's criticism of his comments about swearing, which Hamilton suggested had 'racial' undertones.

GPFans have contacted the FIA for comment.