Rui Marques’ first full 12 months in cost as Formulation 1 race director has earned him reward from main F1 drivers. Chatting with Motorsport.com, he defined why that response is not any coincidence.
The ultimate run of 2025 races marked Marques’ first full 12 months in cost as F1’s race director, taking on from Niels Wittich on quick discover forward of the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix.
The Vegas avenue circuit and its difficult night-time logistics make it one of many hardest races on the calendar for race management, however Marques shortly earned reward for his swift response to driver issues over monitor markings, which some felt was a welcome departure from occasions prior.
Marques’ responsiveness and willingness to behave on driver suggestions quickly proved the beginning of a pattern, despite the fact that the 54-year-old Portuguese is eager to minimise his personal contribution. Marques is heading a wider race management group together with his deputy Claire Dubbelman, who spoke to Motorsport.com final 12 months about her journey within the sport.
“It has been implausible,” Marques advised Motorsport.com in an interview in direction of the tip of final season. “On the finish of the day, I might say the vast majority of race administrators would dream of this seat. In fact, it is a scorching seat. Let’s make it clear. However saying this, I’ve an awesome group with me. It isn’t a one-man present.
“There’s 5 of us in race management. Now we have extra folks in Geneva with a secondary race management. There is a large group behind me. Nevertheless it has been implausible. I actually take pleasure in it.”
Marques is backed by a bigger group in race management, together with his deputy Claire Dubbelman
Picture by: Michael Potts / Motorsport Photos
Together with his huge quantity of expertise throughout nearly each stage of FIA sanctioned motor racing, shifting as much as F1 was a logical step for Marques, and it goes a way in direction of explaining why it was comparatively easy for him to fit into the position.
“As a race director I accomplished all of the steps,” he defined. “In single-seaters I did all classes: F4, Formulation Regional, F3 and F2. I additionally did touring automobiles, world endurance, Le Mans, which implies I’ve all that background. However after all, F1 is one other stage, so the requirements are even larger.”
When requested by Motorsport.com for his perspective, GPDA director Carlos Sainz gave F1’s newest race director the thumbs up.
“Truthfully, I can solely say good issues about Rui,” Sainz mentioned on the finish of November. “The way in which he is stood as much as the job and delivered from the get-go, the best way he is listened to us, the best way he is making an attempt to use that – he is one of many key figures behind us drivers feeling snug when somebody with good judgement and customary sense is main that position.
“Along with Tim [Malyon, FIA sporting director], they have been doing an excellent job and I am actually very, very proud of the best way they have been performing. That is why the one factor we have to clear up in the meanwhile is this case with the rules, the penalties and all that.”
Earlier in 2025, fellow GPDA director George Russell made comparable feedback. “I believe it has been very refreshing having Rui on board, to be trustworthy. I really feel he and Tim have been exceptionally receptive. They hear and so they react, and I believe collectively, we’re all considerably happier now with the place we’re.”
FIA race management
Picture by: Rolex / James Moy
That reward is not any coincidence, as Marques is properly conscious that race management and F1’s drivers should be on the identical group, even when contrasting opinions and agendas are an inevitable a part of the motorsport.
“My method of working in all championships, not solely right here, was all the time to work with the drivers and the groups,” he defined. “I by no means felt that we’re on one facet or the opposite. On the finish of the day, we’re a part of the identical present and we have to work collectively.
“In fact, I have to observe the foundations, and security is all the time the very first thing. However on the finish of the day, all of us have to work collectively.”
Marques identified it might be odd to not take suggestions onboard from the drivers who’re truly within the firing line each session. “In F1, I’ve the privilege of working with 20 of the very best drivers, which implies I have to tackle all their expertise.
“I by no means sat in an F1 automobile, after all, which signifies that in the event that they inform me there’s an issue on monitor and we do not see it, I have to belief that, and I have to work based mostly on that.
“Saying that, after all it is not all the time doable to observe all of the requests. It would not solely rely upon me, it relies upon additionally on the circuits, on the laws and so forth. However the work with them goes properly, I am actually having fun with it.”
Learn Additionally:
We would like your opinion!
What would you prefer to see on Motorsport.com?
– The Motorsport.com Group
