Formula One’s governing body the FIA has announced another senior figure has left the organisation with the departure of the technical director Tim Goss. He is the second key player to leave the FIA within a month after the resignation of the sporting director Steve Nielsen in December.
The loss of both men is a blow to the sport’s governance. Goss was central to the process of the formulation of new regulations set to be introduced in 2026, while Nielsen was brought in only a year ago to overhaul the sport’s race control operations that had been found so wanting at the controversial Abu Dhabi GP in 2021. He was reportedly unsatisfied and frustrated with the FIA’s unwillingness to make the changes he believed were required.
The departures raise questions as to the management of the FIA under its president Mohammed ben Sulayem, who has overseen a series of controversies involving the governing body, including most recently the opening of a conflict of interest investigation into the Mercedes principal, Toto Wolff, and his wife, Susie, who runs the sport’s all-female series, the F1 Academy.
The investigation swiftly deemed neither party had a case to answer after F1 management and the teams all declared the investigation was unwarranted. The FIA has yet to give an explanation of the reasons behind its investigation into the Wolffs.
A paddock insider told the Guardian the departures were a worrying trend which highlighted that there were issues at the FIA.
The FIA stated it has replaced Nielsen with Tim Malyon, who has been the safety director at the organisation since 2021. He has previously worked in F1 with Sauber and Red Bull. A replacement for Goss has yet to be announced.
Goss is the third senior member of the FIA to leave in recent months after the head of the FIA’s commission for women, Deborah Mayer, also opted to not renew her position and left to pursue her other commitments in racing including her role as founder of the Iron Dames, all-female racing team.
