A return that will not fail to be talked about in the Paddock of Formula 1. On Wednesday, the International Automobile Federation announced the appointment of Shaila-Ann Rao as adviser to the President of the FIA, Mohammed Ben SULAYEM. The Briton already knows the house since she previously held the position of interim secretary general of the FIA for motorsport (June-November 2022) and that of legal director of the FIA (2016-2018).
At the time of his first appointment by Mohammed Ben SULAYEM at the start of his mandate, in 2022, the arrival of Shaila-Ann Rao within the FIA had aroused contrasting reactions. Indeed, her visit to Mercedes as a general councilor of the German stable and special advisor to Toto Wolff, between 2018 and 2022, had aroused the concerns of several stables which feared a potential conflict of interest. She had only stayed only five months in place of Concorde as an acting secretary general of the FIA, against the backdrop of sexist behavior and intimidation on the part of Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
Shaila-Ann Rao (left) during the FIA Motorsport Games 2022 © Marc de Mattia / DPPI
Ben Sulayem reorganizes before the end of his mandate
The return of Shaila-Ann Rao to the FIA is therefore surprising. The lawyer by trade, who exercises in Great Britain but also in France, will advise the president of the FIA on a whole series of questions, including the regulatory and commercial issues linked to the seven world championships of the FIA. It takes office this Thursday, May 1, 2025. In its press release, the FIA indicates that “The appointment of Ms. Rao intervenes at a pivotal moment for the FIA, which successfully continues its organizational transformation and its financial reform, as evidenced by the operating results planned for 2024, which amount to 2.2 million euros, while the Federation had inherited a deficit of 24 million euros in 2021.”
“I am delighted to be able to advise the president of the FIA on all the world championships of the FIA and to rely on the significant progress which has already been carried out during its presidential mandate to strengthen the regulatory and commercial executives of the championships, said Shaila-Ann Rao. The FIA occupies a unique place in world sport, and I am delighted to support the FIA at the moment and to help the president of the FIA to ensure an even more solid future in motorsport. »»
“I am delighted to welcome Shaila-Ann Rao again to the FIA, was delighted Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who arrives at the end of the mandate at the head of the body. His remarkable journey in world motor sport makes it a precious asset for me and my team, while we continue to strengthen the regulatory and commercial executives of all the FIA world championships, for the benefit of the pilots, the teams and our member clubs. She will also bring me her advice on relations with promoters of all world championships. »»
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