Just days after the sudden – and unexplained – exit from the FIA of F1 race director Niels Wittich, another key figure has left the organization: compliance officer Paolo Basarri.
According to a report from the BBC’s Andrew Benson, multiple sources within and close to the FIA have reported that Basarri, the officer responsible for ensuring compliance and integrity within the organization, was dismissed after losing the confidence of president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
It is believed that Basarri had “pushed back against or tried to navigate around” several requests from the FIA president, leading to tensions that ultimately cost him his position.
The Italian declined to elaborate on the circumstances of his exit, telling BBC Sport: “I cannot comment on this.” The FIA has also refused to comment.
However, Wittich, who preceded Basarri out the door, told BBC Sport on Thursday that his departure was not his choice.
"I can confirm that I got fired and it was not my decision to leave F1,” the German said, further reinforcing the FIA’s lack of transparency.
Furthermore, Basarri's departure is particularly concerning given his role in investigating serious allegations that emerged earlier this year against Ben Sulayem.
The compliance officer had been tasked with examining claims that the FIA president had interfered in the outcomes of the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Former FIA Compliance Officer Paolo Basarri.
While Ben Sulayem was ultimately cleared of these accusations by the FIA’s ethics committee, Basarri's departure raises questions about the independence of the investigation and the potential for undue influence.
The Italian’s exit also raises concerns once again about internal discord within F1’s governing body under the leadership of Ben Sulayem.
The exits of Basarri and Wittich are not isolated incidents. In recent months, the FIA has seen a significant exodus of senior personnel, including sporting director Steve Nielsen, head of the FIA commission for women Deborah Mayer, leading engineer Tim Goss, CEO Natalie Robyn, director of communications Luke Skipper, and secretary general of mobility Jacob Bangsgaard.
These departures, coupled with a series of controversies surrounding Ben Sulayem's leadership, have inevitably cast a shadow over the FIA.
A recent letter from the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, expressing frustration over the FIA’s handling of driver conduct, further highlights the growing discontent within the sport.
The venerable institution’s ability to maintain credibility and effectively govern Formula 1 is now under serious question. As the organization grapples with these internal challenges, there are growing concerns about the impact on the sport's future and the integrity of its decision-making processes.
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