Experienced figure steps up his commitment to F1

Burns works alongside Rui Marques, the Portuguese race director of Formula 1.

The experienced Burns began his motorsport career as an official in 2007, working as a marshal at Kirkistown in Northern Ireland. In the years that followed, he held various roles at circuits in the United Kingdom and Ireland before specialising in timekeeping.

In 2010, Burns joined the timekeeping team at Formula One Management (FOM). After several seasons in Formula 1 and a year in the World Touring Car Championship, he obtained his FIA Super Licence in 2014. By the time he left FOM at the end of 2020, Burns had worked at more than 160 Grands Prix and had certified the results of nearly half of them.

In 2023, the official joined the FIA’s F1 Race Operations team, where he was responsible, among other things, for the race control operational systems for the championship’s support series.

Toward the end of 2024, Burns took on operational duties within Formula 1 and became the deputy race director of Formula 2, a position he held through the 2025 season.