The FIA has decided to continue with Rui Marques as the career director of F1 for 2025, after he successfully directed the last three races of the season without major issues. Marques, who took over the position after Niels Wittich’s dismissal on the eve of the Grand Prix of Las Vegas 2024, will continue to lead the F1 as its permanent career director.
Marques’ appointment was put to the test as he had to direct not only F1 but also F2 and F3, and his performance was deemed positive. He will now be joined by Claire Dubbelman, the sports director of FIA F1, who will serve as the deputy director of Carrera. Dubbelman has been with the FIA since 2017 and has previously held the position of championship director, overseeing a total of 26 series, including F2 and F3. She will be the first woman to hold this position, although Silvia Bellot has been working as a career curator for the last 12 years.
New Additions to the FIA Team
Dubbelman’s move to the new role means she will be leaving the FIA’s High Performance Programme (HPP) for officials, which is being intensified as part of an effort to train future race directors and commissioners. The FIA has been reinforcing its career control structure, with around six high-level personnel members now involved, in addition to a broader career operations team that includes technical support and personnel at the Remote Operations Center in Geneva.
The FIA’s goal is to have a strong enough team to be able to rotate career directors and avoid the risks associated with relying on a single high-level figure. This was highlighted by President Ben Sulayem, who explained that it is essential for the governing body to incorporate new talents and have a plan in place for the future. “There will be new blood and there will be more than one (career director). That’s safe,” he said, adding that the FIA has been working behind the scenes to develop new talent and will announce new appointments soon.
The decision to continue with Rui Marques and appoint Claire Dubbelman as deputy director of Carrera is part of the FIA’s efforts to strengthen its team and ensure a smooth and successful season in 2025. With a focus on developing new talent and having a robust team in place, the FIA is well-positioned to tackle the challenges of the upcoming season and provide a high level of support to its teams and drivers.