Sid Watkins stands down Dr Hartstein appointed new Medical Delegate After 26 years in the role, Professor Sid Watkins is standing down as the FIA Formula One Medical Delegate the FIA announced today. Gary Hartstein MD, associate Professor of Anaesthesiology and Emergency Medicine, has been appointed as the new Medical Delegate. Dr Hartstein has assisted Professor Watkins at Formula One events since 1997. Professor Watkins has made a unique contribution to improving the standards of safety and medical intervention in Formula One and indeed internationally throughout motor sport," FIA President Max Mosley said. "We very much look forward to the continuation of this contribution in his new role as the first President of the FIA Institute for Motor Sport Safety. The newly established Institute is based in Paris and brings together all the expertise in motor sport safety that exists within the FIA, its membership, and the wider automotive world. Under Professor Watkins guidance I am convinced that the FIA Institute will become a centre of excellence and world leader in the fields of motor sport safety research and training. The announcement brings a close to an era. One man who knows the benefits that Sid Watkins brought to the sport probably better than most is Niki Lauda. "Bernie has the foresight to recruit him to the position of Formula One Surgeon in 1978," Lauda said in the book Triumph and Tragedy in Formula One. "Sid Watkins has brought a totally new dimension to the business of medical treatment and security in one of the worlds most high profile international sports." Earl ALEXANDER © CAPSIS International For those of us who saw Sid Watkins perform his duties on and off the race track, we will always remember his dedication and great contribution to F1. He will be missed.
