FIA chief Mohammed Ben Sulayem continues sacking spree with shock dismissal of F1 lead steward Tim Mayer

MOHAMMED BEN SULAYEM has sacked F1’s starring steward Tim Mayer successful different bombshell dismissal. 

The FIA president’s determination comes conscionable three-weeks aft erstwhile F1 contention manager Niels Wittich's daze axing with conscionable 3 races to go.

Mayer is the lad of McLaren co-founder Teddy Mayer and 1 of the astir respected figures successful the sport.

He has not been called up to officiate arsenic president of the stewards since his past outing astatine Mexico City Grand Prix past month.

The 58-year-old besides worked for the organisers of the US Grand Prix successful Austin, who were summoned aft fans invaded the way aft the race. 

Comments made by the US promoters reportedly upset Emirati enforcement Ben Sulayem.

Mayer and Wittich are the latest successful a bid of elder radical to permission the FIA successful the past year, with Luke Skipper, erstwhile manager of communications, leaving successful October 2024.

This coincided with the departure of Jacob Bangsgaard, the erstwhile caput wide of mobility. 

Steve Nielsen besides near his relation arsenic sporting manager astatine the FIA successful December 2023, conscionable earlier single-seater method manager Tim Goss followed suit. 

Rui Marques, the F2 and F3 contention director, was named arsenic the Wittich’s replacement from past weekend’s Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Earlier this period furious drivers released an unfastened missive demanding they are treated similar ‘adults’ by the FIA erstwhile it comes to swearing, jewellery and clothing.

Since past Mercedes operator George Russell precocious said the drivers are "a spot fed up" with the enactment of the sport's governing body. 

He made it wide helium was referring specifically to the enactment of the Ben Sulayem.

Russell, a manager of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA), besides said that the drivers "weren't aware" of the determination to region Wittich.

The sport’s governing assemblage suggested successful a connection that the German had chosen to permission his station to “pursue caller opportunities.”

But Wittich deed back, claiming helium did “not resign” conscionable hours aft the FIA had announced his departure from the role. 

Four-time satellite champion Max Verstappen, who was crowned champion past play successful Las Vegas, said: “It’s a spot weird with 3 races to spell to bash that and to person to present woody with a antithetic contention director.”

Leclerc added: “That came retired a spot of nowhere. I deliberation we were each surprised. 

“It could person astir apt been managed successful a amended way."