Shaila-Ann Rao will full a shock return to F1’s governing physique the FIA after being appointed as Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s presidential advisor.
Rao left her former function on the FIA as interim secretary normal for motorsport lower than six months after being appointed in 2022 after serving to to supervise the interval of transition after Ben Sulayem took workplace.
It’s going to mark Rao’s third stint on the FIA, having beforehand served because the governing physique’s authorized director between 2016 and 2018 earlier than shifting to Mercedes as a normal counsel and later particular advisor to workforce principal Toto Wolff.
The FIA confirmed Rao will begin her new place on 1 Might and that she’s going to advise Ben Sulayem on “regulatory and business issues associated to the seven FIA world championships”.
“I’m delighted to welcome again Shaila-Ann Rao to the FIA,” Ben Sulayem stated.
“She has an distinctive report in international motor sport and will likely be an excellent asset to me and my workforce as we proceed to enhance the regulatory and business frameworks throughout all of the FIA World Championships benefiting our drivers, groups and FIA Member Golf equipment.
“She can even advise me on issues associated to all of the FIA World Championship promoters.”
Rao stated: “I’m trying ahead to advising the FIA President throughout the FIA World Championships and constructing on the numerous progress that has already been made throughout his Presidential time period strengthening the Championships’ regulatory and business frameworks.
“The FIA holds a singular place in international sport, and I’m excited to help the FIA right now and to assist the FIA President ship an excellent stronger future for motor sport.”
Rao was at centre of F1 value cap row
Rao discovered herself on the centre of Purple Bull’s F1 value cap controversy after the workforce had been penalised for breaching the $145m spending restrict for 2021.
Purple Bull expressed their worries that confidential info about breaches of the price cap had been leaked to rival groups as early because the Singapore Grand Prix.
“The accusations made in Singapore had been extraordinarily upsetting for each single member of workers, all our companions, everybody concerned inside Purple Bull,” stated Purple Bull workforce principal Christian Horner.
“Clearly, any type of leakage is vastly worrying. It is one thing that we count on to be adopted up.”
Purple Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko stated it was “unusual” how the leaks had emerged, alluding to the involvement of Rao in overseeing the method
Rao’s earlier hyperlinks to Mercedes raised some concern from rival F1 groups however the FIA strenuously denied that any leaks over the price cap got here from inside their organisation and stated such insinuations had been fully baseless.
In April 2023, the Telegraph reported that Rao wrote a letter accusing Ben Sulayem of sexist behaviour previous to her departure in December 2022.
