FIA appoints Tim Malyon as new Sporting Director

Seasoned F1 engineer Tim Malyon has officially been appointed as Sporting Director within the FIA’s Single-Seater department, stepping into the shoes of his predecessor, Steve Nielsen.

In his newfound role, Malyon will take charge of a broad spectrum of sporting affairs, wielding authority over pivotal aspects such as Race Direction and the Remote Operations Centre (ROC) situated in Geneva.

Malyon will report directly to Nikolas Tombazis, the Single-Seater Director at FIA. A noteworthy detail in Monday's release by the FIA is that Niels Wittich will continue to serve as F1 Race Director under Malyon's guidance.

The Canadian’s arrival follows the news of Nielsen’s impending departure from the FIA after just twelve months in the position.

Nielsen’s decision to leave the governing body was reportedly rooted in his growing dissatisfaction with the FIA’s F1 operations and how they are being managed.

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Malyon brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having carved out a distinguished career in motorsport.

Notably, he spent over a decade with Red Bull Racing, a journey that began when the team was still known as Jaguar Racing, and played a pivotal role in the Milton Keynes-based outfit’s achievement of four constructors' and drivers' titles between 2010 and 2013, contributing his expertise in various engineering capacities.

His career trajectory then led him to Sauber Motorsport in 2015, where he assumed the role of Head of Track Engineering. In 2016, Malyon transitioned to BMW Motorsport, taking on the position of Chief Engineer for the manufacturer’s DTM programme.

His successful two-year tenure subsequently led to him taking on dual responsibilities as Track Engineering Department Leader and Chief Engineer for BMW's Formula E team.

In 2019, Malyon joined the FIA as Head of Research and later ascended to the role of Safety Director in 2021.

His contributions proved integral to the establishment of the ROC in Geneva, and since May 2022, he has taken on the operational responsibilities of ROC Project Leader.

This rich tapestry of experiences positions Malyon as a seasoned professional ready to steer the course of single-seater motorsport under the FIA banner.

“I am delighted to be taking on the role of Sporting Director,” said Malyon. “We have already brought significant change to our Race Direction operation with the support of the ROC and I look forward to taking that to the next level.

“We are also committed to a broad regulatory review of sporting matters, and I look forward to applying a sharper focus to those efforts in the future.”

Tombazis added: “I am excited to welcome Tim to the role of Single-Seater Sporting Director.

“Tim has a wealth of motorsport experience and expertise at the highest level. He will play a major role as we continue to bring rigour to our sporting and regulatory practices and procedures, and he will drive the innovation we have brought to our Race Control operation.”

In Monday’s press release, the FIA also confirmed that Nielsen will officially leave the FIA at the end of January, while Tim Goss will relinquish his position as Technical Director at the FIA to pursue another endeavor outside of the governing body.

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