F1 race director Niels Wittich steps down amidst officiating controversy

In a sudden and significant change, Formula 1 race director Niels Wittich has stepped down from his role with immediate effect, the FIA confirmed on Tuesday. Wittich, who has served as the race director since 2022, will be replaced by Rui Marques starting from the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix on November 24.

As race director, Wittich was responsible for overseeing all sporting and technical matters in Formula 1, with specific cases at events managed by a rotating panel of race stewards. Wittich took over the pivotal role after the departure of Australian Michael Masi.

“Niels has fulfilled his numerous responsibilities as race director with professionalism and dedication,” the FIA said in a statement. “We thank him for his commitment and we wish him the best for the future.”

The FIA added that Wittich had left "to pursue new opportunities."

Wittich's tenure was marked by consistent challenges surrounding the FIA's officiating, a topic that has been highly contentious in recent weeks. Drivers have expressed dissatisfaction with the inconsistency in penalties and were notably upset over the governing body's decision to hand Max Verstappen community service for swearing during a news conference.

Just last week, Formula 1 drivers addressed these issues by writing a letter to the FIA, asking to be treated like adults. This letter also contained a rebuke directed at Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the president of the FIA and Wittich's superior, criticizing how he communicated about the sport and its competitors.

As Wittich steps down, the FIA and new race director Rui Marques face the ongoing challenge of addressing these concerns while ensuring fairness and consistency in officiating.

Formula 1 fans and stakeholders alike will be closely watching Marques' debut at the Las Vegas Grand Prix to see how this leadership change impacts the sport's governance and race management moving forward.

Up Next