FIA sack head of inclusion & diversity in restructure

Ben Sulayem is running for re-election as FIA president later this year

Formula 1's governing body the FIA has sacked the latest in a series of senior figures after eradicating the role of head of sustainability, diversity and inclusion.

Sara Mariani wrote a note that appeared to be critical of the body's leadership as she left the FIA on Wednesday.

Mariani, who had been head of sustainability, diversity and inclusion for just 18 months, wrote on her email out-of-office: "There is a life outside the FIA. A life where talent and dedication are rewarded. Where women in leadership positions can thrive, feel valued and respected."

Her role was removed as part of an internal restructure that split her responsibilities across two separate divisions.

An FIA statement, issued before Mariani wrote her note upon leaving the organisation, said it was moving sustainability under the remit of the secretary general for mobility, Willem Groenewald, and diversity and inclusion under senior human resources director Alessandra Malhame.

Alberto Villareal, the FIA's general manager, said the move would "strengthen our capabilities across these two crucial areas".

Mariani was unavailable for comment.

She added in her note: "It is, sadly, time to say goodbye. I loved the ride, I enjoyed every minute of it.

"I enjoyed the amazing work we did and my incredibly talented team. I did not expect it would end so abruptly but life goes on."

Mariani was recruited over an eight-month period through 2023 and took on her role in December of that year.

The FIA statement said that the decision to remove her role had been taken "following a period of review".

Villareal said that by "connecting more closely with our members on topics such as sustainable fuel, smart cities, and diversity in sport, we can achieve a bigger impact".

The statement did not explain how this would be achieved by moving sustainability under the umbrella of mobility. The FIA is split into two areas - mobility, which is to do with road transport, and motorsport.

Malhame said in the statement: "The FIA is committed to advancing opportunities for women within the organisation, and across mobility and motorsport… and are proud that 32% of our workforce are women in a male-dominated industry."

A spokesperson added: "Of the almost 100 women working at the FIA, nearly half (47%) of those are in senior positions.

"Examples include Emilia Abel, who runs global road sport, and Rebecca Lee, head of single-seater operations and the FIA's first female official F1 starter."

Mariani is the second major FIA figure to leave this year, following the resignation of the deputy president for sport, Robert Reid, in April.

And it marks the continuation of a trend under the presidency of Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who is running for re-election this year and is so far unopposed.

In the past year, Sulayem has sacked the FIA's head of compliance Paolo Basarri, the head of the audit committee Bertrand Badre and committee member Tom Purves, the FIA's chief executive officer Natalie Robyn, F1 race director Niels Wittich, senior F1 steward Tim Mayer and deputy Formula 2 race director Janette Tan.

These departures come against the backdrop of a series of changes to the FIA statutes introduced by Sulayem, which critics say reduce accountability and good governance and enhance the president's authority.

The latest changes, voted through at last week's FIA General Assembly with a huge majority, were characterised by one opponent as being an example of a "dark period of democratic backsliding".

Sulayem has been the centre of a series of controversies since he was elected, including the emergence of misogynistic remarks on a historic website.

In seeking to justify those remarks in December 2023, Sulayem pointed to his setting up of the FIA's commission for equality, diversity and inclusion as evidence of a strong track record on the subject.

He also mentioned that he had been the first president to appoint a female CEO. Robyn lasted the same period of time in her role as did Mariani.