FIA's deputy F1 race director emphasizes merit over gender.

      FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has refuted the notion that the newly appointed permanent deputy Formula 1 race director was chosen based on her gender. This comes despite the governing body of the sport frequently emphasizing the importance of increased diversity. At the recent FIA officials summit in Madrid, the federation highlighted having "an equal gender split" among its latest 12 trainee stewards and race directors.

      It has now been revealed that while Rui Marquez will remain as the new full-time F1 race director, she will be supported by a permanent deputy, Claire Dubbelman from the Netherlands. According to De Telegraaf, Dubbelman has already played a significant role in race control since 2023.

      "You cannot simply throw someone into this great challenge," Ben Sulayem stated to primarily Spanish media a day before the news about Dubbelman broke. "It’s very important," he continued. "What would happen if the race director fell ill? The same goes for the FIA. If something were to happen to me tomorrow, the FIA will continue to function without me."

      Ben Sulayem also reacted strongly against the suggestion that the FIA appointed Dubbelman, 39, to a key position in Formula 1 purely because she is a woman. "We discuss diversity," he acknowledged, "but when people claim 'You chose someone from this country, or you chose this person because she is a woman,' that is an insult.

      "We do not have women in positions simply to meet a 30 percent quota; we have women based on their merit and credibility. They are qualified, skilled, and passionate. It’s not about ‘I must have a certain color or religion.’ Such thinking undermines the integrity of the FIA," the FIA president said, as reported by Marca sports newspaper.