FORMULA 1 ABU DHABI GP LEWIS HAMILTON RUMOURS

Deputy race director leaves Formula 1 and the FIA ahead of the '26 season

22:34, 22 Dec

Updated: 22:37, 22 Dec

byLudo van Denderen

Claire Dubbelman is leaving the FIA. She served as deputy race director in Formula 1 in recent seasons, but will soon start working in Saudi Arabia, where she will join the local motorsport federation.

Dubbelman already has a rich career in motorsport behind her. For instance, she previously served as the championship manager of the FIA Formula 3 European Championship. She joined the FIA in 2017.

At the motorsport federation, she became a race director for the first time in her career. For the 2024 season, she was promoted to deputy race director and took on a position within Formula 1’s sporting department.

Photo: RacePictures

First woman to gain an F1 race director license

She also became the first woman to receive an FIA Race Director Super License to lead a Formula 1 Grand Prix as race director. However, this never occurred, as race director Rui Marques was never absent from an event.

Her time at the FIA has now come to an end, as she is moving to Riyadh. For what is likely a princely salary, she will work at the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, one of the organizers of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

It remains unclear who will take on Dubbelman's prevous position. Tim Malyon has been mentioned as a possible successor.

GPblog's F1 Paddock Update

Want to stay up-to-date with what happens in the F1 paddock? Then GPblog's F1 Paddock Update video is the perfect way to do it. Subscribe to GPblog's YouTube channel and turn on notifications to never miss the latest episodes.