F1 CONFIDENTIAL: Meet probably the most highly effective lady in F1 who’s now the main candidate to run the game

Renee Wilm, I can reveal, is tipped at the topmost levels of the Formula One world as a front-runner to take on new powers as the sport’s most senior executive.

The little-known American lawyer, who is CEO of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, next week’s race on The Strip, is emerging as the leading early candidate to replace Greg Maffei, the 64-year-old businessman who unexpectedly announced this week that he is stepping down as Liberty Media’s president and chief executive.

As late as last month, Formula One Group (F1G), owned by Liberty and headed up on their behalf by Stefano Domenicali, denied that the powerful Maffei, former CEO of Microsoft and Oracle, would be moving aside.

But certain informed speculation among the sport’s high-rollers indicated that this was less than 100 per cent certain, and, lo and behold, he will now officially depart at the end of the year, according to Wednesday’s official statement. He will stay on as a ‘senior advisor’ to help with the management transition.

Maffei, whose major sporting passion is golf, was a semi-regular attendee at races, though not an ever-present, and the reasons for his departure are unclear.

What is evident is a serious jostling for positions at the top of the F1G strand of Liberty, the American conglomerate that bought the sport in 2017.

As Mail Sport reported a month ago there was uncertainty over Domenicali’s future, though his position now appears to be significantly more secure. The Italian, who is popular with the teams, will work with the new Liberty CE0 – quite possibly Wilm. She is thought likely to be handed a seat on the company’s advisory board, at the very least.

One question posed by a well-placed F1 insider on Thursday was whether Domenicali will retain control over the sport’s commercial side. If so, the Italian will emerge stronger from the upheaval.

Wilm, 50, is a former New York-based mergers and acquisitions lawyer who rose to become partner in the global firm Baker Botts. She is employed by Liberty Media as chief legal and administrative officer, based in Englewood, Colorado, as well as running their grand prix in Las Vegas – a night race that F1G/Liberty entirely promote and in which they invested $500million (£394m). They are confident they can more than recoup the outlay. Internally, it has been deemed a success, with Wilm’s acumen well-regarded.

For now, John Malone, the 83-year-old billionaire Liberty founder and chairman, stands in again as interim chief executive. The stop-gap measure indicates that he was not fully prepared for Maffei’s departure and is still arranging a permanent successor.

Formula One is one of several business in which Liberty Media have or did have a stake. The Atlanta Braves, of Major League Baseball, were among their franchises until last year.

In April 2024, Liberty Media announced their plans to acquire 86 per cent of Dorna Sports, the commercial rights holder of MotoGP. After the acquisition, Liberty Media will not only own MotoGP but WorldSBK and their respective support series. Liberty also owned SiriusXM Radio, though that now stands alone.

A new chief executive could yet emerge from these other companies under (or previously under) Liberty’s media, communications, sports and entertainment umbrella.

But, while nobody at F1G would comment on Thursday night, Wilm appears to lead the field right now.

Monaco remains an iconic event

Some online dissatisfaction among Mail Sport readers about Monaco signing a new deal to host the world’s most iconic grand prix until 2031.

I am biased – I go there each year, and it remains the race that, if I could only attend one in my life, I would choose above all others.

Admittedly, other than in wet conditions, it is a procession. But to watch the cars live, at trackside, flick their way through the principality’s barrier-lined, narrow streets, is to wonder at the dexterity with which magician drivers both accelerate and decelerate their barely credible machinery. Standing by the swimming pool section is an education.

Perhaps TV, for all it can convey so dramatically and realistically, can’t relay the on-the-spot experience.

Problems brewing at Aston Martin

Dan Fallows quits as technical director of Aston Martin. I – and a journalist from another media outlet – put it to the team in September. It was denied at the time. It was confirmed this week.

I believe the denial was issued in good faith. However, I can further reveal, without seeking official confirmation this time, chaps, that Adrian Newey, who is going to Aston next year, did not hold Fallows in especially high regard from their time together at Red Bull.

A wider problem may be brewing here. Andy Cowell has come in as chief executive to replace Martin Whitmarsh. Cowell worked at Mercedes and is a ‘processes’ man. Newey, maverick genius, is not.

We’ll see how they square that circle.

Russell deserves recognition

George Russell is quietly performing something exceptional.

I bow to nobody in my admiration for Lewis Hamilton’s amply obvious abilities as a racing driver. Yet Russell is leading Hamilton in the standings. Only just, by two points, though 16-5 in terms of qualifying.

I understand that Hamilton has clocked out at Mercedes. His mind is on Ferrari, and he can hardly be flavour of the month where he is given that Toto Wolff feels hurt by his decision to move, having told Netflix that red wouldn’t suit his champion. He won’t necessarily be handed the best cards.

Despite all those caveats, who is the most underrated driver in the sport right now? George Russell.