F1: Executive Director and FIA Secretary General Peter Bayer leaves post

The FIA has announced the departure of Peter Bayer, who served as Secretary General for Sport since 2017 and as F1 Executive Director since 2021. He will initially be replaced Shaila-Ann Rao, formerly Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff’s Special Advisor.

As well as fulfilling his role as F1 Executive Director, Bayer headed the FIA’s Sport Division, facilitating the current single-seater structure, creating the World Rally-Raid Championship and working on safety and sustainability.

In a statement, the FIA said: “The FIA warmly thanks him for the achievements he has contributed to the development of motor sport over the last five years. The FIA wishes him all the best for the future.”

Rao, who was FIA Legal Director from 2016-2018 before joining Mercedes as General Counsel and then Special Advisor to Wolff, will take over on an interim basis.