FIA releases an official statement announcing the exit of their executive director, Peter Bayer
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The FIA have announced the departure of Formula 1 executive director, Peter Bayer.
The FIA has announced the departure of Peter Bayer, who had been serving as Secretary-General of Sport since 2017, and Formula 1 executive director since 2021.
He will be replaced on an interim basis by Shaila-Ann Rao on an interim basis. She had previously served as Legal Director at the FIA for 2 years between March 2016 and December 2018. Since that, she had been serving as General Counsel, before being upgraded to a ‘Special Advisor’ role for Toto Wolff, in January of last year.
Bayer’s job curtailed overseeing all sporting activities that come under the banner of the FIA, from go-karting to Formula 1. As part of his role in Formula 1 as executive director, Bayer was put in charge of investigating the controversial end of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2021, where all lapped cars had not been allowed to pass before the safety car came into the pits. Max Verstappen eventually overtook Hamilton on the last lap, taking the championship home, and the decision stood in court.
A consequence of the FIA’s current restructuring?
The FIA’s statement reads:
“The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile announces the departure of Peter Bayer, who served as Secretary-General for Sport since 2017 and also as F1 Executive Director since 2021.”
“The FIA warmly thanks him for the achievements he has contributed to the development of motorsport over the last five years. In particular, he has supervised, with the entire Sports Division, the building of the single-seater pyramid from Karting to F1, the creation of the new World Rally-Raid Championship, as well as improve safety and sustainability in all disciplines.“
“The FIA wishes him all the best for the future.”
Michael Masi, who had been in charge at Abu Dhabi, was removed as Race Director at the start of the year. Now, the role has undergone a paradigm shift by the FIA, appointing two alternating race directors. As a part of the FIA’s restructuring, they have appointed former DAMS managing director, Francois Sicard as its new sporting director.
One can assume that the current restructuring of the FIA may have some part in the departure of the Austrian, who had been with the FIA for five years.
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