Former FIA Method 1 race director Niels Wittich has branded the marshals on observe in the course of the Las Vegas Grand Prix as “completely unacceptable”.
Wittich served because the F1 race director from 2022, alongside Eduardo Freitas initially, earlier than assuming a full-time place in 2023. The German remained within the function for 2024 earlier than he was changed by Rui Marques for the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Whereas the FIA mentioned he stepped down from the function, Wittich later claimed he was stunned and that “nobody has been capable of give me a solution” as to why he was faraway from the place.
Through the opening lap of the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix, a bunch of marshals might be seen operating throughout the reside race observe to clear particles from race-start collisions.
“This should not occur. This can be a state of affairs that’s completely unacceptable,” Wittich instructed Sky Germany after the race. “After all, you at all times have the set-up, particularly at Flip 1 at each begin you place the marshals in movement or not less than on standby, as a result of that’s the largest managed hole you may have firstly, as soon as the final automobile has handed. In case there may be any particles or components that have to be picked up.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 22: Marshals sweep particles from the observe in the course of the F1 Grand Prix of Las Vegas at Las Vegas Strip Circuit on November 22, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Picture by Sam Bagnall/Sutton Pictures)
Picture by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures through Getty Pictures
“However for it to take so lengthy that the vehicles are mainly already coming again round on their flying lap, a double yellow flag shouldn’t be sufficient anymore at that time. That’s merely unsuitable, and I can’t perceive how this has now occurred for the second time this yr.
“The simplest method to react to one thing like this, even when you can see that one thing is delayed or {that a} state of affairs wants one other motion: a full course yellow could be activated inside one second, after which everybody has to decelerate. That might have been the quickest and easiest answer to make clear and safe such a state of affairs. From my standpoint, you don’t wish to see that.”
Pictures from Las Vegas GP – Race
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
Las Vegas GP – Saturday, in photographs
We wish your opinion!
What would you prefer to see on Motorsport.com?
– The Motorsport.com Crew
