Formula One (F1) global governing body, FIA, has outlined a host of changes for the upcoming 2022 season, following the controversial end to the 2021 season.

After being at the centre of the end of season, final race controversy, F1 race director, Michael Masi, has been replaced as part of a restructuring which sees the role split between Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas, while Masi will move to a new role at the FIA.

Elsewhere, FIA president, Mohammed ben Sulayem, said the competition will set up a virtual race control room similar to the current Video Assistance Referee (VAR) system in football, and teams’ radio communications during races will no longer be broadcast live.

Discussing the new rules and changes, ben Sulayem said: “Firstly, to assist the race director in the decision-making process, a Virtual Control Room will be created.”

“Like the Video Assistance Referee, VAR, in football, it will be positioned in one of the FIA offices as a backup outside the circuit.

“In real-time connection with the FIA F1 race director, it will help to apply the sporting regulations using the most modern technological tools.

“Secondly, direct radio communications during the race, currently broadcast live by all TVs, will be removed in order to protect the race director from any pressure and allow him to take decisions peacefully.

“It will still be possible to ask questions to the race director, according to a well-defined and non-intrusive process.

“Thirdly, unlapping procedures behind safety car will be reassessed by the F1 Sporting Advisory Committee and presented to the next F1 Commission prior to the start of the season,” ben Sulayem said.

The move to remove teams’ radio communications has been reported as a way to take pressure off drivers and their teams during races to entertain fans watching and listening at home and improve focus on race strategy and performance.

Teams across the competition have also been recently unveiling their new cars, which feature major differences in the categories of aerodynamics and wheels, with car wings to be simplified and wheel sizes increasing from 13 inches to 18 inches and wheel covers to return, all to increase downforce.

Elsewhere in the F1 world, the competition has revealed its cumulative global broadcast audience for the 2021 season surpassed 1.55 billion viewers, increasing 4% on 2020.

Among the notable growth figures, the global average audience for each Grand Prix was 70.3 million, equating to a 13% growth on 2020 figures, with the season finale drawing 108.7 million viewers worldwide, rising 29% on the same event of the 2020 season.

In the digital space, F1’s social platforms recorded a 40% increase of followers for the 2021 season, equalling more than 49.1 million cumulative followers on social media, with video views growing by 50% on 2020 figures and engagement increasing by 74% in total.

Discussing the results of the 2021 season and the continued growth across broadcast and digital, while fans returned to races around the world in major markets, F1 CEO, Stefano Domenicali said: “The 2021 season was something very special.”

“We had a championship battle that went to the last race with huge excitement throughout the whole championship.

“We began to welcome back our fans who are the heart and soul of our sport and although we were limited in our capacities due to COVID, it was fantastic to see 2.6 million fans in the grandstands around the world.

“We have also seen some very strong figures across broadcast and our digital platforms, showing once again the momentum, excitement and interest that is all around Formula One.

“We are looking forward to our record breaking 23 race season this year, with new cars, new regulations, and a new challenge for all the teams and drivers.

“I know all of our fans can’t wait to get the season started,” Domenicali said.