P1racenews AI automatic summary:
It has been reported that FIA compliance officer Paolo Basarri has left his post, which would be the second high-profile exit over the past week.
The FIA compliance officer Paolo Basarri has been reportedly fired by the governing body due to a loss of faith from president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. According to the BBC, multiple sources have confirmed that Basarri was dismissed instead of resigning voluntarily. This marks the second high-profile exit from the FIA in a week, following the departure of F1 race director Niels Wittich, who disputes claims that he stepped down and argues he was fired. Basarri declined to comment on the situation, while reports suggest that Ben Sulayem was dissatisfied with Basarri’s uncooperative approach and attempts to circumvent the FIA president. Basarri had played a key role in investigating claims against Ben Sulayem regarding alleged interference in two grand prix during the 2023 F1 season, damaging the president’s reputation despite being cleared by the FIA ethics committee. The departure of several other key figures under Ben Sulayem’s leadership, including sporting director Steve Nielsen, single-seater technical director Tim Goss, and CEO Natalie Robyn, further highlights the turmoil within the FIA organization.
