The FIA appoints a commissioner to oversee the improvements
A new commissioner has been appointed by Mohammed Ben Sulayem. It is the former journalist Dieter Rencken. His mission will be to oversee the improvements of Formula 1.
The FIA keeps innovating. Following several issues with the regulations, noticed by fans and the drivers themselves, the Federation has decided to take the lead. A new commissioner has been appointed to primarily oversee the improvements.
It is the former Formula 1 journalist, Dieter Rencken, who has been appointed. For several months, he was a close advisor to the president of the FIA, Mohammed Ben Sulayem. He takes up his position with immediate effect.
Todt had the idea in 2009
This idea that the FIA has finally implemented had been suggested for several seasons. Already in 2009, Jean Todt, who was president at the time, had included in his program the desire to integrate a commissioner working primarily on improvements. Ultimately, the project had been abandoned. As the FIA is a non-profit organization, it was impossible for the Federation to attract a qualified enough individual. « We have to find someone who is willing to give their time, with their skills, almost for free, said the Frenchman. « This is something that makes the choice more difficult, but we are in a good position, and for me, I prefer to wait a few months to find the profile I want rather than rush to fill the position. »
The project was finally abandoned. Jean Todt had deemed that the role of commissioner was not necessary as long as the master of F1, Bernie Ecclestone, was leading the F1 Commission.
Assist Ben Sulayem
With this appointment, Dieter Rencken will be tasked with finding solutions and innovations to improve Formula 1. The former journalist will most certainly report the submitted ideas to the president of the FIA. He will represent the governing body. In his role, Dieter Rencken will also participate in the FIA discussions, notably the Concorde Agreement. This document fully directs Formula 1 and is planned for 2026.
Recently, the leader of the FIA had stated that he needed more support to fulfill his duties to the best of his ability. It’s not a one-person show, said Ben Sulayem. I always rely on our team. If you had asked me six months ago, I would have said that they were not ideal for negotiating this. We have a good technical department for the racing cars. But when it comes to negotiation, they are not technical people. Technical people deal with restrictions, sound, power units. That’s not what exists on the commercial side. Today, I have a good team, it’s good to start now. But our house is not on fire, and the new Concord Agreement should be fair for all three stakeholders: the FIA, FOM, and the 10 teams, if they are still there.
Dieter Rencken was appointed solely to oversee the improvements of Formula 1.
