Former FIA CEO latest to speak out against leadership amid ongoing turmoil

The FIA has “critical ongoing structural challenges” and doesn’t observe “skilled processes” in line with its former chief government Natalie Robyn.

It was announced on Thursday ahead of this weekend’s Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix that FIA deputy president for sport Robert Reid had resigned from the motor racing governing body with immediate effect.

Together with Motorsport UK chairman David Richards, Reid was considered one of two members barred from the latest gathering of the FIA World Motor Sport Council over their refusal to signal a non-disclosure settlement imposed by president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

Richards has continued his confrontation with Ben Sulayem and the FIA usually, and on Wednesday claimed there had been a “disregard for the very actual considerations which have been expressed, not simply on my own, however a rising variety of individuals, that the governance and constitutional organisation of the FIA is turning into ever extra opaque and concentrating energy within the fingers of the president alone”.

Robyn was the FIA’s first-ever chief government however give up her submit in Could 2024 after simply 18 months, following the resignations of single-seater technical director Tim Goss, sporting director Steve Nielsen, and Deborah Mayer, the president of the FIA’s Ladies in Motorsport Fee.

Whereas on the time of her exit she stopped wanting explaining her reasoning, she has now spoken out about what led to her departure.

“Throughout my tenure as CEO, I labored underneath difficult circumstances to strengthen the federation’s governance framework and improve its operational transparency,” she instructed BBC Sport.

“The resignation of the deputy president of sport clearly signifies there are critical ongoing structural challenges.

“When skilled processes are usually not adhered to and stakeholders are excluded from decision-making, it undermines the muse of a powerful organisation.

“I’m saddened to see these developments, as they threaten each the credibility and the long-term effectiveness of an necessary establishment.

“I labored intently with Robert throughout my time on the FIA and I’ve a substantial amount of respect for him and naturally his dedication to the way forward for motorsport.”