Paul Burns appointed as F1's new deputy race director

Paul Burns has been appointed as the new deputy race director for Formula 1, bringing over 15 years of motorsport operations experience to the critical role. He steps in for Claire Dubbelman, who departed after the 2024 season, and will work alongside Race Director Rui Marques to oversee the sport's on-track operations and officiating.

Why it matters:

The deputy race director is a key pillar in F1's race control structure, assisting with real-time decision-making, incident management, and ensuring the consistent application of sporting regulations. Burns's extensive background, particularly in timekeeping and operational systems, provides a deep technical and procedural foundation for this high-pressure position, contributing to the stability and integrity of race management.

The details:

• Burns replaces Claire Dubbelman, who left her F1 role at the end of 2024 for a new opportunity in Saudi Arabia.
• He will report to and work directly with F1 Race Director Rui Marques.
• His career began trackside as a marshal at Kirkistown Circuit in Northern Ireland in 2007.
• He later specialized in timekeeping, joining Formula One Management's (FOM) timekeeping team in 2010.
• Burns obtained his FIA Super Licence in 2014 and worked over 160 Grands Prix with FOM, certifying the results for nearly half of them before leaving at the end of 2020.
• He joined the FIA's F1 Race Operations team in 2023, managing race control systems for the championship's support series.
• In late 2024, he took on operational duties within F1 and served as the deputy race director for Formula 2 throughout the 2025 season.

What's next:

Burns immediately assumes his duties within the FIA's F1 race control team. His proven track record in both timekeeping precision and recent race director experience in the feeder series positions him as a seasoned operator ready to contribute to the smooth execution of Grand Prix weekends. His appointment reinforces the FIA's focus on maintaining a experienced and technically adept team in race control.