Russell asks big question of FIA: 'Who is getting fired next?'

George Russell is seeking greater "clarity and understanding" of what is going on inside the FIA following yet more high-profile departures.

On Thursday of the Qatar Grand Prix weekend, it was revealed that senior F1 steward Tim Mayer would not be retuning to his role, claiming to have been fired by a text message from a member of president Mohammed Ben Sulayem's staff. 

It then emerged that new F2 race director Janette Tan had been removed from her post prior to even assuming control of a race weekend, with new F1 race director Rui Marques overseeing both series, with himself being new to the role. 

Marques replaced Niels Wittich, who was surprisingly removed from his position after the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, and claimed he had been sacked, with the reasoning behind Wittich's removal still unclear.

These departures came after a number of senior departures from the FIA, including CEO Natalie Robyn, with GPDA director Russell seeking further understanding.

"I mean, just when we're getting a bit of transparency and consistency, we're getting rid of two highly-important people in the governing body," he told media including RacingNews365.

"It has kind of gone 360 degrees, we still don't have any reasoning for Niels' removal, and I don't think anybody was informed about Tim leaving. 

"The first I heard about the new race director doing Formula 2 this weekend was through the media, so naturally in any organisation, if you've got people leaving or changing personnel, it is never going to be a stable environment, and people have to learn new roles.

"That is very challenging for any team, and it must be super challenging for everyone within the FIA right now, so we'd love to get a bit of clarity and understanding of what is going on, and who is getting fired next."

Russell on FIA change

With F1 being deemed to be in a healthy place financially and on a sporting front, Mercedes driver Russell went onto explain that he hoped the change at the FIA would not "have a negative impact."

"When it comes to the FIA, so much is changing, too much is changing and too quickly," he said.

"I think everybody has faith in Liberty Media and in Stefano Domenicali, he was a racer, he has racing in his blood and he is doing everything he can to get the sport in the best possible place.

"I think the only concern for all of us is that the sport is in such a great place and everyone is trying their best and we need to make sure that the sport stays in this position or continues to grow.

"The only thing with all this change is that I hope it is not going to have a negative impact."