FIA confirms F1 structure change! New position created, new technical and sporting director

On Wednesday 18 January, the International Automobile Federation confirmed a change in the structure of F1. Experienced Steve Nielsen moves into the role of sporting director, while other important figures also change their positions. Whether Federico Lodi or Nikolas Tombazis.

The FIA, as the governing body of the queen of motorsport, on Wednesday 18 January announced many changes within its structure and that of Formula 1 itself.

One of the biggest ones is the appointment of a new sporting director. This role will be filled by Steve Nielsen, who is moving to the FIA from F1, where he held the same position.

The 58-year-old Briton has been in Formula 1 for 30 years and has worked for several teams in the past. And those were Lotus, Tyrrell, Benetton and AlphaTauri. Now Nielsen will work directly for the International Automobile Federation, whereupon he will be responsible for, for example, changing the sport’s rules.

Nielsen will replace François Sicard, who is moving to a newly created position within the FIA as Director of Strategy and Operations for F1. It should be noted that Sicard will be responsible for all matters related to logistics at the circuits.

Also changing his position is Nikolas Tombazis, who has been the head of the FIA’s technical team in Formula 1 since 2018. However, he will now take on the role of F1 Monopoly Director.

It should be added, Tombazis will have all the directors mentioned under him, namely sporting, financial, technical and also Sicard as director of strategy and operations.

Federico Lodi will be the Finance Director, as stated by the FIA in its official statement. The last major change is the transfer of Tim Goss to the position previously held by Tombazis. And that is technical director.

Statement by the President of the FIA

“We have spent a lot of time and effort to make significant changes to our Formula 1 team and to create the right structure with the right people to oversee the future regulation of the sport,” said Mohammed Ben Sulayem in the official statement.

“By developing and empowering people within our organisation, as well as bringing in expertise and experience from outside, I am confident that we are in the best possible position to move forward with our partners at FOM and the Formula 1 teams,” he added.

FIA, Motorsport