FIA Compliance Officer Paolo Basarri Resigns

Paolo Basarri has been dismissed from his role as the FIA's compliance officer, following the departure of F1 race director Niels Wittich just days earlier. Basarri's removal is attributed to a loss of confidence from FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, amid tensions over compliance issues. He had been responsible for investigating allegations that Ben Sulayem interfered with race outcomes during the 2023 season, including claims involving Fernando Alonso's penalty at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Although cleared by the FIA's ethics committee, Basarri's exit raises concerns about the independence of such investigations. The FIA has faced a significant exodus of senior personnel, which has been a point of concern under Ben Sulayem's leadership. Both Basarri and Wittich's departures highlight ongoing instability within the FIA's governance structure.