The FIA’s compliance officer Paolo Basarri is no longer in his position, the BBC is reporting.
An FIA spokesperson declined to comment on the report when approached by RaceFans.Last year the governing body’s compliance division investigated an alleged exchange of confidential information between F1 team principal Toto Wolff and F1 Academy CEO Susie Wolff, who are married. The investigation concluded within two days of it being announced. Susie Wolff later announced she was taking legal action against the FIA.
In March this year the compliance department cleared FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem over allegations of interference in two rounds of the 2023 world championship. It declared the claims were “unsubstantiated” and “strong evidence beyond any reasonable doubt was presented to support the determination of the FIA Ethics Committee.”
Basarri, who has previously worked in compliance roles for Fiat Chrysler and Japan Tobacco, joined the FIA in 2017. Last year he issued Lance Stroll a written warning after footage emerged of him appearing to push an Aston Martin team member during the Qatar Grand Prix.
Basarri is said to have left the FIA last week. He is the second significant figure to leave the governing body this month.
On Tuesday the FIA confirmed F1 race director Niels Wittich had left with immediate effect “to pursue other opportunities”, though he later stated he had “not resigned.” The FIA confirmed Formula 2 race director Rui Marques as his replacement.
Last week F1 drivers expressed their frustration with recent penalties issued by the FIA’s stewards regarding drivers swearing in press conferences, as well as past clampdowns on their compliance with regulations regarding jewellery and fireproof underwear. They also urged the FIA to clarify how it uses the money raised from fines levied on drivers and teams.
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Jere (@jerejj)
14th November 2024, 18:19
What’s with this exodus within FIA this year?
Surprisingly, many individuals have either resigned or gotten fired.
SteveP
14th November 2024, 19:15
All opinions may be expressed, but only those of MBS are valid.
If you disagree, then jump, or be pushed.
Looks like no one wants to relay the views of MBS to the GPDA etc.
MichaelN
14th November 2024, 21:05
The FIA has seen what is essentially a restructuring. It’s normal that people leave once this process is complete as positions are consolidated, new structures are put in place and veterans make way.
Plus, there’s an inherent imbalance in these kind of reports because the ‘old names’ are known while the new ones are not. But it’s important to keep in mind that these positions are all filled by new people. It’s not like half the offices at the FIA are now empty.
anon
15th November 2024, 8:48
MichaelN, you’re really desperate to put the positive spin on this, given that the original report indicates that Basarri was fired by Sulayem because of personal animosity from Sulayem.
In doing so, Sulayem has also violated the FIA’s own statutes by not consulting the FIA Senate. Basarri’s position is managed by the senate, so firing him requires the senate’s permission; however, there are no records of Sulayem having asked for permission during the most recent meeting by the FIA Senate.
Trying to claim that “positions are consolidated, new structures are put in place and veterans make way” is completely false when none of the positions that have seen people leave, or being forced out of, have been consolidated and the governance structure of the FIA has not been changed either.
Claiming that this is about moving out “veterans” is similarly false – in the list of names posted by SPArtacus, over half of the senior staff resigning (Nielsen, Goss, Mayer, Robyn, Skipper and Bangsgaard) were people who had joined the FIA within the past two years, so they are hardly “veterans”.
Red Pill (@redpill)
15th November 2024, 14:32
MichaelN,
Your post above is coming across as Hyperbole, unless you care to clarify and substantiate what you wrote above with some more info and facts. Thank you
SPArtacus
15th November 2024, 2:47
Here’s a quick list of high level FIA staff who’ve all left within the last few months. There are more I’ve missed too.
1. Paolo Basarri
2. Niels Wittich
3. Deborah Mayer (less than two years)
4. Steve Nielsen (sporting director – lasted less than a year)
5. Tim Goss (single seat technical director)
6. Pierre Ketterer (governance and regulatory director)
7. Edward Floydd (head of commercial legal affairs)
8. Natalie Robyn (quit as CEO just 18 months after appointment as first ever FIA chief executive)
9. Luke Skipper (director of communications)
10. Jacob Bangsgaard (secretary general of mobility)
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
14th November 2024, 18:24
FIA’s preparing the off-season news a bit too early this year!
Martin
14th November 2024, 19:41
The drivers fines are used to cover the cost of FIA personnel pay-offs!
BMW P85 V10
14th November 2024, 20:03
The championship is virtually over. They need to create some new Buzz to make the headlines.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
15th November 2024, 2:18
Well, the constructor’s championship is still very open, I’m surprised there’s not more interest in that, especially with 2 teams that didn’t win in ages.
PeteB (@peteb)
15th November 2024, 10:18
Whilst the Constructors Championship is actually what F1 is really all about, I reckon than less than 5% of F1 fans actually care about it. It’s one of those weird things that causes problems in F1 – so may people believe that it’s a competition to find the best driver and the media (and F1 itself) play up to that. They’re all in different cars so the best driver could finish 19th every week if he’s in the slowest car.
We’ve got a really exciting end to the season in the Constructors Championship but all you’ll hear is that it’s a shame because the season is effectively over already….
Neil (@neilosjames)
14th November 2024, 21:32
Guess this is one way for the FIA to cut its carbon footprint.
Bryan (@ruz234014)
15th November 2024, 12:17
None of us know what is going no behind the scenes. If I had to guess though, this has the hallmarks of an organization run by fear.
Mayrton
15th November 2024, 17:49
Maybe, but more in the open is their inconsistent and biased allocation of penalties. They surely have disqualified themselves as a governing body this season. Might have something to do with that.
SPArtacus
16th November 2024, 1:41
Yup. And one which cannot handle different points of view. And who seems like someone with dictatorial tendencies and a narrow, rigid world view?
Mayrton
16th November 2024, 9:07
I understood the partiality in stewarding is what triggered all this. After all since Mexico and Brasil they are not even trying to hide their scripting of the season anymore. They run the risk of rendering themselves obsolete if they don’t make changes in their corrupt structure.
Ferdinand
16th November 2024, 11:54
I understood the partiality in stewarding is what triggered all this. After all since Mexico and Brasil they are not even trying to hide their scripting of the season anymore. They run the risk of rendering themselves obsolete if they don’t make changes in their corrupt structure.
reggie747
15th November 2024, 18:17
When is MBS leaving then ? Icing on the cake eh ?
Red Andy (@red-andy)
16th November 2024, 7:47
Up for re-election in December 2025, but he will almost certainly win unless a Mosley-level scandal emerges.