Rao, who joined the FIA from Mercedes in June, was at the centre of the controversy over Red Bull breaching F1’s budget cap regulations in 2021. An FIA statement said Rao had joined to assist new president Mohammed Ben Sulayem in his “transition period”. It said she was leaving because “this period is now coming to an end”. The FIA found Red Bull to have exceeded the $145m (£114m) cost cap by £1.86m. He hinted that she would be leaving the FIA, by saying: “Her position is interim secretary general. “When it comes to Shaila-Ann, there was an accusation that she is mainly a supporter of Mercedes.

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