Formula One‘s governing body, the FIA, has received a huge blow as the deputy president for sport, Robert Reid, has resigned. Reid stated boldly that when he “took on this role, it was to serve the FIA’s members, not to serve power,” which casts doubts on FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s leadership.

Reid formed a crucial part of the organization’s top management. However, BBC Sport reports that Reid and Ben Sulayem had been experiencing disagreements. Reid said that he was witnessing a breakdown of principles within the FIA and that decisions were being made without following standard protocols. He highlighted the “growing alarm over critical decisions being made without due process or proper consultation.”

Reid also stressed that his resignation was due to the principles not being followed within the organization, and was not motivated by any specific person. The incident that triggered Reid’s exit is said to have been the decision taken by the FIA to adopt in-house promotion of the World Rallycross Championship, a step made without prior approval of the World Council or the FIA Senate.

Reid called it “the final breach of trust and due process,” and even added that this action “could carry legal risk under European Union competition law.”

The decision goes against the claim made by the FIA World Motorsport Council that all motorsport championships would rely on external promoters and follow a profitable business plan.

“When I took on this role, it was to serve the FIA’s members, not to serve power,” Reid said.

“Over time, I have witnessed a steady erosion of the principles we promised to uphold.

“Decisions are being made behind closed doors, bypassing the very structures and people the FIA exists to present.”

Reid stated the importance of having an FIA leadership that was accountable and transparent. He said:

“Motorsport deserves leadership that is accountable, transparent and member-driven. I can no longer, in good faith, remain part of a system that does not reflect those values.”

Reid’s resignation could reignite concerns among several F1 personalities, including drivers, about the FIA’s leadership. Last year, Ben Sulayem witnessed considerable disagreement with the drivers over his policing of using swear words and their overall conduct.

The FIA was rocked by high-profile exits in the last year that raised further questions about the way the organization was being run under Ben Sulayem. Some prominent names include former single-seater technical director Tim Goss, former sporting director Steve Nielsen, former Formula 1 race director Niels Wittich, former senior steward Johnny Herbert, and former CEO Natalie Robyn.