Ben Sulayem hints at multiple F1 race directors in 2025

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has reportedly stated that Formula 1 will once again rely on multiple race directors in 2025, marking a return to a system last seen in 2022.

Speaking at the Summit of Sporting Stewards in Jarama, Spain, on Friday, Ben Sulayem also addressed the FIA’s controversial new guidelines aimed at regulating driver behavior, defending the decision as a necessary step to maintain discipline and professionalism in the sport.

Race control in Formula 1 was given a makeover in 2022 in the wake of the controversy that rocked the sport at the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP, where contentious decisions by race director Michael Masi regarding a late pace car procedure turned the race on its head, to the detriment of race leader Lewis Hamilton.

In 2022, the FIA experimented with a dual race director system, appointing Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas to share responsibilities.

However, after a problematic handling of the 2022 Japanese GP, Freitas was removed, and Wittich took sole charge until November 2024, when he abruptly relinquished his role on the eve of the Las Vegas GP weekend.

A Fresh Approach

With uncertainty surrounding the 2025 season, Ben Sulayem confirmed a fresh approach.

"There will be fresh blood, and more than one race director," he stated, according to a report from Dutch journalist Erik van Haren from De Telegraf.

While it is expected that Rui Marques, who stepped in last year, will retain a role, it remains unclear who will join him.

The FIA’s decision signals a renewed attempt at distributing responsibility, potentially to enhance consistency in officiating throughout the season.

Stricter Rules on Driver Conduct

Alongside officiating changes, the FIA has introduced tougher regulations on driver behavior, particularly regarding swearing and public criticism of the governing body.

The updated sporting code and penalty guidelines, which apply across FIA-sanctioned championships, allow for significant fines, suspensions, and even points deductions for repeat offenders.

While critics argue that heightened emotions are an integral part of motorsport, Ben Sulayem remains firm in his stance that discipline must be upheld.

"When I was driving rallies myself, there was a certain amount of discipline, something that is very important for everyone in the sport. Drivers are ambassadors of the sport," he explained, quoted by De Telegraaf.

He also stressed the impact of driver behavior on the sport’s image, particularly among young fans.

"After all, we don’t want parents of children to get the image that we are a ‘dirty’ sport that they don’t want to belong to," he said.

The FIA President further emphasized the professional responsibilities of modern F1 drivers, many of whom are among the highest-paid athletes in the world.

"At every track, you have to deal with things that are allowed or not allowed,” he added.

“Drivers in Formula 1 earn millions and are not children, but adults. In their job, they have a responsibility to the FIA and to the public.

“They should respect the rules in a sport that has given them so much."

A Controversial but Clear Direction

The FIA president’s comments – reinstating multiple race directors and imposing stricter driver conduct regulations – reflect its broader push for greater control and structure in F1.

While the officiating move could provide stability after years of upheaval, the driver behavior guidelines are set to remain a divisive topic, with many in the paddock questioning whether the governing body risks stifling personality and passion in the sport.

With F1's 2025 season fast approaching, all eyes will be on how these changes unfold—and whether they achieve the FIA’s intended effect of enhancing discipline without compromising the sport’s raw intensity.

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