Niels Wittich, the FIA’s System One race director, has allegedly been fired with three races of the season remaining after what sources described as a falling out with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
Motorsport’s world governing physique launched an announcement on Tuesday afternoon saying Wittich, who arrived as a substitute for in 2022, had “stepped down from his place to pursue new alternatives”.
However the abruptness of his departure instantly appeared unusual, with solely three rounds of the season remaining and no time for a substitute to rise up to hurry. A number of sources informed Telegraph Sport that the German had in actual fact been fired.
Wittich then claimed the identical to a reporter from , insisting he had not resigned and including he was knowledgeable of his dismissal solely simply earlier than the general public affirmation in Geneva.
He can be changed in Las Vegas subsequent week by Rui Marques, most lately the race director for System 2 and System 3.
Nonetheless succesful Marques could also be, it places the Portuguese in an unenviable place so far as the championship denouement is worried with McLaren making an attempt to fend off Ferrari and Crimson Bull for the constructors’ crown, and within the drivers’ championship.
There was an enormous quantity of dialogue in latest weeks concerning the overtaking laws in System One following quite a lot of contentious calls, with after which championship chief .
It’s unclear whether or not Wittich’s departure is linked to these incidents. The FIA has not returned a request for remark. However it should definitely add additional gasoline to ideas that Ben Sulayem is a chaotic ruler.
The 62-year-old former rally driver from the United Arab Emirates has been concerned in a collection of controversies since being elected simply weeks after the controversial Abu Dhabi Grand Prix wherein Verstappen received his maiden world championship.
Masi misplaced his job a couple of months after that for what was described as a “human error”, however Ben Sulayem’s relationship with Mercedes, and particularly Toto Wolff and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, has by no means actually recovered.
The Emirati in France by Susie Wolff, the managing director of the all-female F1 Academy collection, over the FIA’s into her relationship together with her husband.
Wittich’s abrupt departure is the newest in a protracted line of comparable departures within the final two years. on the acrimonious exit of Shaila-Ann Rao, the FIA’s former interim secretary common for motorsport, who despatched a letter alleging quite a few cases of “unacceptable behaviour” on the a part of Ben Sulayem previous to leaving in December 2022.
An influential member of the FIA’s ethics committee resigned quickly afterwards following a disagreement over whether or not to analyze the Rao allegations.
Final December sporting director Steve Nielsen stop after lower than a 12 months in his position. His departure adopted that of Deborah Mayer, the top of the FIA fee for girls. In January, main engineer Tim Goss left his position as single-seater technical director. And as chief government officer, exterior, after simply 18 months within the publish.
An FIA assertion learn: “The FIA can verify that Niels Wittich has stepped down from his place as F1 Race Director to pursue new alternatives. Niels has fulfilled his quite a few tasks as Race Director with professionalism and dedication. We thank him for his dedication and we want him the perfect for the longer term.
“Rui Marques will assume the position of Race Director from the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Rui brings a wealth of expertise having beforehand served as monitor marshal, scrutineer, nationwide and worldwide steward, Deputy Race Director and Race Director in varied championships. Most lately, he held the place of System 2 and System 3 Race Director.”
It was a day of exits in System One with Aston Martin confirming the information that would depart as technical director pending the . Telegraph Sport reported on the Singapore race in September that former Crimson Bull designer Fallows would depart, though Aston Martin’s assertion clarified that he would “stay with the Group”.
In the meantime, System One has introduced a season launch occasion at London’s O2 area on February 18. The occasion, which is able to function stay music and star presenters in an awards-style ceremony, will function all of the groups, drivers and crew principals forward of the 2025 season. The O2’s capability is 20,000. Tickets will vary from £58-£113 plus reserving charge.
