The FIA has confirmed the appointment of highly-respected former team manager Steve Nielsen in a new role as sporting director amid a new Formula 1 structure for the 2023 championship.
The 58-year-old British engineer, who has most recently worked for Formula One Management, has had a lengthy career in grand prix racing that included spells at Lotus, Tyrrell, Benetton and AlphaTauri.
By becoming sporting director and working for the FIA, Steve Nielsen will have the difficult task of managing all sporting aspects, including the development of race control and the remote Operations Centre, as well as future updates to the sporting rules
Talking about his new job, the British engineer explained: “I have spent my professional life working for many teams and organisations in Formula 1, and cannot wait to engage with another new chapter with the FIA. I’d like to thank both the President and Stefano Domenicali for their trust in me, and I understand and appreciate the unique challenges that come with being the regulator. Having worked closely with a number of people in the Federation over the years, I’m looking forward to tackling those challenges that lie ahead with them – Formula 1 is in a great place at the moment, and it’s our responsibility to ensure the future health of the sport that is at the heart of everything we do.”
Steve Nielsen’s arrival as sporting director is just one of the many changes that FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has made with the goal of better running the sport after several controversial moments during the last few years. Nikolas Tombazis, who has led the FIA’s technical team in Formula 1 for the last four years, has been promoted to the role of Single Seater Director.
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The ones who will report to him directly will be Steve Nielsen, technical director Tim Goss, financial director Federico Lodi and operations director Francois Sicard.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem feels these changes are going to improve the way FIA is managing Formula 1, explaining that “we have dedicated a lot of time and effort to making significant, informed changes to our Formula 1 team to create the right structure with the right people to oversee the future regulation of the sport. By developing and empowering people within our organisation, as well as bringing in expertise and experience from the outside, I am confident that we are in the best position possible to move forward together with our partners at FOM and the Formula 1 teams.” – the FIA president concluded.
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