The president of Formula 1's governing body denied ordering a recent wave of staff dismissals that included the removal of the race director with three events remaining in the season.

Toto Wolff has reignited his feud with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem after the head of motorsport’s world governing body said Formula One’s drivers should “stick to racing” and added it was “none of their business” how he ran his organisation.

The departures come off the back of the exit of Niels Wittich, who was dismissed as the F1 race director with three races to go.