FIA INTRODUCES NEW OFFICIALS DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE A CENTRALISED APPROACH TO BE IN PLACE FOR THE 2025 SEASON

The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has introduced a new department to ensure a centralised approach to appointing FIA Officials.

In place to cover all levels of Officials from the start of the 2025 season and working closely with the FIA Volunteers and Officials Commission, the Officials Department will support the recruitment of officiating talent, empower Officials at a regional level, improve efficiency, and be a cohesive operational process.

The management of Officials via the department will include their appointments against Sporting needs, ensuring they are timely and that there is clarity on license issuing.

This centralised approach will provide greater visibility and management of FIA Officials, allowing the federation to have a better understanding of their activity and the support that they need.

There are currently 302,000 formal, officials, marshals, and volunteers, covering the 60,700+ events staged each year*. In addition to the direct benefits they bring to motor sport, volunteerism has been shown to deliver broader benefits to the volunteers themselves and the broader community.

Alongside the new department, a review and update of necessary regulations will be made which will define criteria for obtaining, maintaining, and progressing through license grades. This will provide greater transparency and opportunity for recruiting new officials and allowing talent to progress, whilst also encouraging the continued diversification of Officials.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President, said: “Our sport would not exist without the dedication of our Officials, who are committed to ensuring every level of motor sport competition takes place in a safe, fair, and regulated way.

“This new department will ensure greater efficiency in their appointments, will allow us to discover and nurture officiating talent, and will provide a centralised approach to their management. I am delighted to see FIA Officials increasingly coming from different backgrounds, with the recent Regional Stewards programme attendees representing this via 42% female attendance and an average age of 37.5 years old.”

The Officials Department will be overseen by Italian Matteo Perini. It will be part of Education and Training under the direction of Valerio Iachizzi, FIA Secretary General Sport. Perini began his motor sport career in 2005 and has been a National Steward in Italy since 2015.

As one of the country’s youngest National Stewards he has officiated in a number of series including Rallies, GT racing, F4 and TCR. His international experience began with stewarding roles in a variety of series. He has also acted as a permanent Steward in the F4 Italian Championship and from 2019 in the Formula Regional European Championship. He took part and completed the Global Pathway to become FIA Steward and now serves as a Steward in Formula 1.

Matteo Perini said: “I am delighted to take up the position Sport Officials Manager of the newly-formed Officials Department. Streamlining the operation of officiating will be my key focus as well as providing support for these unsung heroes of our sport. As a graduate of the FIA’s Global Stewarding Pathway, I am also well-placed to oversee the development of the next generation of officials.”