[Rules] The FIA - what's occurring there?

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by nobster

Mexico happened with Tim...

Mayer spent 15 years as an unpaid steward in motor racing but has not been called up since last month’s Mexican Grand Prix.


The 58-year-old also worked for the organisers of the US Grand Prix in Austin, who were summoned after fans invaded the track after the race. According to the Daily Mail, comments made by the US promoters upset Emirati executive Ben Sulayem.

"Mayer spent 15 years as an unpaid steward in motor racing but has not been called up since last month’s Mexican Grand Prix.
The 58-year-old also worked for the organisers of the US Grand Prix in Austin, who were summoned after fans invaded the track after the race. According to the Daily Mail, comments made by the US promoters upset Emirati executive Ben Sulayem"

Do we have different articles? (See attached).

Austin was before Mexico.

Additionally, this proves my point spectacularly well.

Austin: Goes in favour of Max
Mexico: Goes in favour of Lando

Fans: Mexico proof that he's bias towards Lando (if you ignore everything else, but reeee, we angry)

[nobster]

If you go to the FIA's homepage and search for stewards Mexico GP you get :

2024 MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX
25 - 27 October 2024
The Stewards
From The Stewards
To All Teams, All Officials
Document 10
Date 25 October 2024
Time 10:30
Title Entry List
Description Entry List
Enclosed MEX DOC 10 - Mexico City Grand Prix - Entry List.pdf

Tim Mayer
Loïc Bacquelaine

Johnny Herbert
Alfonso Oros Trigueros

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by nobster

If you go to the FIA's homepage and search for stewards Mexico GP you get :

2024 MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX
25 - 27 October 2024
The Stewards
From The Stewards
To All Teams, All Officials
Document 10
Date 25 October 2024
Time 10:30
Title Entry List
Description Entry List
Enclosed MEX DOC 10 - Mexico City Grand Prix - Entry List.pdf

Tim Mayer
Loïc Bacquelaine

Johnny Herbert
Alfonso Oros Trigueros

Ah, no this is different. He was a steward in Mexico. Before this he was the Chairman of the Stewards. He was removed from this role after Austin, and removed from the stewarding position complete after Mexico and has now been sacked.

[nobster]

this is what I found

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by nobster

this is what I found

Yes, he was a steward in Mexico, but not the Chairman of the Stewards. I believe there are 4 of those in the FIA, but that might've changed. (Well, it has now Tim has been sacked lol).

He served this role at Austin.

[nobster]

and also Janette Tan is gone, she was going to be the new steward of F2...

from Motorsport.com :
"Formula 1 race director Rui Marques faces increased duties at the Qatar Grand Prix in having to take charge of F2 as well, following the latest shock FIA exit, Motorsport.com has learned.

Just one week after former F2/F3 race director Marques took over in F1 from Niels Wittich, who himself was sacked by FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem after the Brazilian GP, there has been further upheaval.

Janette Tan, who had been appointed as Marques’ successor and had been expected to have her first race in charge of F2 in Qatar, has now been unexpectedly dismissed just days before the Losail event.

She had gained experience as Marques’ deputy and originally was going to be in charge for the final two rounds of F2 in Qatar and Abu Dhabi before likely stepping up to the role full-time in 2025.

However, that will now not happen because she is understood to be the latest FIA casualty of FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, although the reasons for her departure have not been made public.

Tan’s exit means that Marques now faces a tougher than normal schedule for the Losail weekend as he has been drafted in for F2 as well – which comes on an F1 sprint weekend that already has a more intense schedule than usual.

The extra demands of his Qatar weekend also come as he faces the third weekend of a brutal four-race stint – with him having been race director for the Macau Grand Prix the weekend prior to Las Vegas"

[Sodemo]

Things seem pretty rotten, at least that’s what I deduce from an onlooker peering in.

[Akrapovic]

FIA running out of people to do jobs, says sacked steward:https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1...s/c4gzn7gvjzzo

[Tourer]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

FIA running out of people to do jobs, says sacked steward:https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1...s/c4gzn7gvjzzo

Really pleased to see that one the people shafted by MBS is speaking out. Tim Mayer is very highly regarded in the motorsport world - clearly in the US but also around the world.

I really hope that Tim has more to say and that at least some of the other sacked FIA people back him up and support what he's saying - he is exactly the sort of person who just might give reason to all the idiots who voted for MBS to never do so again. The gravitas that he holds might also lead to some kind of "no confidence" process against MBS, if the FIA statutes allow for such a thing.

Frankly, it's what the sport needs. Sacking Tim is bad enough, but dismissing the new F2 Race Director and adding F2 to the F1 Race Director's role is just sheer madness and completely ignores the hard work required in each role - far too risky a move. Honestly, MBS showing himself to have no idea at all.

[chillibowl]

and why not just wait until the season is over in a couple of weeks and when everyone has stopped watching?

like doesnt this guy know how to purge people properly! classic rookie mistake!

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by Tourer

...far too risky a move. Honestly, MBS showing himself to have no idea at all.

seriously tho, yes this is a risky thing to do. regardless of how well qualified or prepared the replacements will be, this is an undue burden to put on them with such short notice and one that could, hopefully not, have serious consequence.

short of a factual FIA statement explaining the need for immediacy of these terminations (which has not happened as far as i know), none of this comes across as responsible governance of sport imo.

[Sodemo]

I have no idea why this chap was voted in in the first place, the whole thing stinks and reeks of dubious happenings.

[bjohnsonsmith]

What I find alarming is key people being dismissed, in such a short space of time. Not wanting to get melodramatic but it's rather like a purge.

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

FIA running out of people to do jobs, says sacked steward:https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1...s/c4gzn7gvjzzo

That is a very revealing article. This quote stuck with me...

Mayer said that Ben Sulayem felt an element in the right of review paperwork "was a personal attack on him".

You know, if he is so thin skinned, he might be in the wrong job. Not to mention his other issues.

FOM and "F1" in general (drivers, team principles, team owners, race promotors, etc.) all have to feel that he needs to be replaced. I am surprised nobody has publicly thrown their hat into the ring to challenge him in the upcoming election.

Richard

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by Tourer

Frankly, it's what the sport needs. Sacking Tim is bad enough, but dismissing the new F2 Race Director and adding F2 to the F1 Race Director's role is just sheer madness and completely ignores the hard work required in each role - far too risky a move. Honestly, MBS showing himself to have no idea at all.

You have to wonder if FIA is just holding itself together with rubber bands and gum at this point. What is needed is some type of stoppage that is laid at his feet. I can see this as...

1. Those who might be overworked just step back and say "no thank you". Including this happening in a way that it puts an event at risk.

2. Some type of critical error happening (hopefully without serious impacts to health and safety) that is traced back to lack of experience and/or overworked staff.

Either scenario should be disastrous for FIA and in particular MBS.

Richard

[Tourer]

Originally Posted by Richard C

You have to wonder if FIA is just holding itself together with rubber bands and gum at this point. What is needed is some type of stoppage that is laid at his feet. I can see this as...

1. Those who might be overworked just step back and say "no thank you". Including this happening in a way that it puts an event at risk.

2. Some type of critical error happening (hopefully without serious impacts to health and safety) that is traced back to lack of experience and/or overworked staff.

Either scenario should be disastrous for FIA and in particular MBS.

Richard

Yep - that's the concern. Is getting really worrying with the FIA. We've been spoiled for a long time now with FIA administration that, whilst not perfect, has been largely professional and well-structured and something that could be reasonably predicted and relied upon.

Now, with an egomaniac taking everything personally, throwing toys from the pram at the drop of a hat in the role of President, we are back to something like the bad old Balestre days (not the same, but some similarities) but then to expect one person, at his second F1 GP in the role, to also be RD for F2 is just crazy, for the reasons you state Richard.

[midgetman]

Is it impossible that F1 pulls away from the FIA?

Which would be interesting. In theory it could be possible that "non-licensed" F1 drivers could be banned from taking part inFIA sanctioned events like Le Mans, and even have to take a test and re-qualify for their International licences by racing in local clubbies

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[S griffin]

FIA will always run F1. It couldn’t run on its own. I know Le Mans has done at times, but that was because the ACO did a brilliant job with it

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by Tourer

Yep - that's the concern. Is getting really worrying with the FIA. We've been spoiled for a long time now with FIA administration that, whilst not perfect, has been largely professional and well-structured and something that could be reasonably predicted and relied upon.

Now, with an egomaniac taking everything personally, throwing toys from the pram at the drop of a hat in the role of President, we are back to something like the bad old Balestre days (not the same, but some similarities) but then to expect one person, at his second F1 GP in the role, to also be RD for F2 is just crazy, for the reasons you state Richard.

And all this is going on whilst, supposedly, MBS is taking a back seat as far as F1 is concerned.

At least Marques knows what is going on in F2/F3 as he was the race director there up until now. But the stupidity is that the job was split during Whiting's time as it was too much for one person to do.

[Greem]

I suspect that Monsieur President will need to be reacquainting himself with the FIA Statutes around the Ethics Committee (18) and the International Tribunal (26), both of which have specific rules regarding disrepute. For example:

Originally Posted by FIA Statutes 2024, Article 26, para 4, clause 2

by words, actions or writings have inflicted damage
to the standing and/or reputation of, or loss to, the
FIA, its bodies, its Members or its executive
officers; or

[chernaudi]

And with that in mind, can the FIA Senate, General Assembly, and/or WMSC take action against MBS? If Max Mosley could face a vote of no confidence (which he won ironically because of corruption or questionable dealings) over Nazi S&M-gate, then MBS should be looked into for actual Balestre-esque abuse of power.

I say screw him having served three terms already, bring Jean Todt back. He may not have caused controversy like Balestre, Mosley or MBS, but IMO that's a sign that he was doing his job.

[midgetman]

Originally Posted by S griffin

FIA will always run F1. It couldn’t run on its own. I know Le Mans has done at times, but that was because the ACO did a brilliant job with it

Hmmm short memory there. F1 teams threatened to break away before, until Bernie bought them off one chip at a time. And back in those days they didn't have a big corporation like Liberty on their side.

Also think Indycar/IRL in the States. Don't be so sure.

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[morninggents]

Who are the replacements for these sacked/resigned high ranking staffies? Is MBS replacing them with personnel from countries that may back him in the upcoming election?

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by morninggents

Who are the replacements for these sacked/resigned high ranking staffies? Is MBS replacing them with personnel from countries that may back him in the upcoming election?

According to one of the sackies - nobody. They are doubling up duties. This weekend has a single race director for F1, F2 and F1 Academy. This hasn't happened since Charlie Whiting stepped down.

https://archive.is/2024.11.28-235647...-one-kjwmmrgjv

It appears that some people raised concerns with MBS attempted bribery of the clubs who would be voting in the FIA Presidency election. Those people are no longer employed by the FIA.

[chernaudi]

Is that related to the $1.5 million USD trust fund MBS wanted to set up for club racing? On another forum that's been pointed out as basically a bribe to try and get/sway votes for next year's election.


Of course, Max Mosley got accused of much the same when he skirted a no confidence vote of his shenanigans in '08 when he did similar things for Eastern European and maybe Middle Eastern auto clubs.