Ben Sulayem says FIA centre can curb errors, but not remove human element

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem says the new Remote Operations Centre (ROC) in Biggin Hill can help the sport avoid another controversy like the one surrounding Michael Masi in 2021. Technology can reduce human error, he said, but cannot remove the human element. At the centre’s opening, he said he had been surprised that Masi lacked comparable support.

The controversy came during the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, when the safety car was brought in before all lapped drivers had passed it, despite the rules requiring them to do so. That allowed Max Verstappen to attack Lewis Hamilton for the win and claim his first F1 title. After an extensive investigation, the FIA described Masi’s handling as a human error while saying he had acted in good faith.

Ben Sulayem said Masi had struggled personally and mentally after the episode, and argued that such situations should be prevented.

The ROC assists race control and FIA officials in assessing situations and possible infringements, including false starts, incorrect grid positions and track-limit breaches. Its role is comparable to football’s VAR. A centre had operated in Geneva since 2022; the move to Biggin Hill gives current race director Rui Marques better support.

The Biggin Hill facility has been fully operational since the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix, with a more efficient connection to the circuit and up to 16 staff working there during race weekends. Ben Sulayem said the centre is also intended to train future officials. He said the FIA struggled to find enough good stewards and race directors in 2022 and 2023, and that people trained for the roles did not always meet Formula 1’s requirements.