Niels Wittich, who has served as Formula 1’s Race Director since 2022, has stepped down from his position with immediate effect. The FIA announced this unexpected development ahead of the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix, where Rui Marques will assume the role. Marques, who previously held Race Director roles in Formula 2 and Formula 3, brings extensive experience in motorsport, including work as a track marshal, steward, and scrutineer.
The FIA thanked Wittich for his service, citing his professionalism and dedication during his tenure. His departure comes as the F1 season nears its conclusion, with only three races remaining
“The FIA can confirm that Niels Wittich has stepped down from his position as F1 Race Director to pursue new opportunities,” said the governing body in a statement.
“Niels has fulfilled his numerous responsibilities as Race Director with professionalism and dedication. We thank him for his commitment and we wish him the best for the future.”
‘WITTICH EFFECTIVELY SACKED AMID FALLOUT WITH BEN SUALYEM’
Sky Sports News reporter Craig Slater:
Senior sources have told me that he has effectively been sacked, that there wasn’t a volition in terms of him deciding to leave his job with three races to go. That is obviously contrary to what the FIA have put out in their statement.
What I have also learned, and this has been explained to me by several sources, is that the relationship between Wittich and the FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem was also somewhat at odds, and that has been a contributory factor today.
Wittich is only the latest in a number of important figures that have left the FIA over the last couple of years.
In terms of how this is being received in F1 today, there’s some shock and surprise among the teams that I’ve spoken to. They think with three races to go, it’s an unusual choice to change horses at this point in time.
Rui Marques is coming in, who’s been the Formula 2 race director, but is inexperienced in F1 terms. There’s a vast difference between operating in F2 and operating in F1, when every decision is scrutinised.
Wittich has been under some scrutiny. We can look back at Interlagos and what happened there, and even in events preceding that. Amid heavy rain at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, there were times perhaps when maybe the red flag ought to have been activated earlier on.
I’ve spoken to some individuals who felt that Wittich’s judgement was perhaps lacking for some of these crucial decisions.
Was his relationship with the race stewards a bit problematic? Did that surface in Austin when there was all that controversy about the way Max Verstappen races, particularly in defence.
The other complicating factor in parachuting in with three races to go is that the Drivers’ Championship is still live theoretically, even though Max Verstappen is the heavy favourite. But the Constructors’ Championship is still ongoing.
Formula 1 returns after a three-week break with the Las Vegas Grand Prix on November 22-24, live on Sky Sports F1
part of this post was teken from F1.com and Skysports.com/f1
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