Why F1 race director Marques has struck a chord with the drivers

Rui Marques' first full year in charge as Formula 1 race director has earned him praise from leading drivers. Speaking to Autosport, he explained why that response is no coincidence.

The final run of 2025 races marked Marques' first full year in charge as F1's race director, having taken over from Niels Wittich on short notice ahead of the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix.

The Vegas street circuit and its tricky night-time logistics make it one of the toughest races on the calendar for race control, but Marques quickly earned praise for his swift response to driver concerns over track markings, which some felt was a welcome departure from times prior.

Marques' responsiveness and willingness to act on driver feedback soon proved the start of a trend, even though the 54-year-old Portuguese is keen to minimise his own contribution. Marques is heading a wider race control team including his deputy Claire Dubbelman, who spoke to Autosport last year about her journey in motorsport.

"It has been fantastic," Marques told Autosport in an interview towards the end of last season. "I would say the majority of race directors would dream of this seat. Of course, it's a hot seat. Let's make it clear. But saying this, I have a great team with me. It's not a one-man show.

"There's five of us in race control. We have more people in Geneva with a secondary race control. There's a big team behind me. But it has been fantastic. I really enjoy it."

Marques is backed by a larger team in race control, including his deputy Dubbelman

Photo by: Michael Potts / Motorsport Images

With his vast amount of experience across virtually every level of FIA-sanctioned motor racing, moving up to F1 was a logical step for Marques, and it goes some way towards explaining why it was relatively straightforward for him to slot into the role.

"As a race director I completed all the steps," he explained. "In single-seaters I did all categories: F4, Formula Regional, F3 and F2. I also did touring cars, world endurance, Le Mans, which means I have all that background. But of course, F1 is another level, so the standards are even higher."

When asked for his perspective, GPDA director Carlos Sainz gave F1's latest race director the thumbs up.

"Honestly, I can only say good things about Rui," Sainz said at the end of November. "The way he's stood up to the job and delivered from the get-go, the way he's listened to us, the way he's trying to apply that - he's one of the key figures behind us drivers feeling comfortable when someone with good judgement and common sense is leading that role.

"Together with Tim [Malyon, FIA sporting director], they've been doing a very good job and I'm honestly very, very happy with the way they've been acting. That's why the only thing we need to solve at the moment is this situation with the guidelines, the penalties and all that."

Earlier in 2025, fellow GPDA director George Russell made similar comments. "I think it's been very refreshing having Rui on board, to be honest. I feel he and Tim have been exceptionally receptive. They listen and they react, and I think collectively, we're all substantially happier now with where we are."

FIA race control

Photo by: Rolex / James Moy

That praise is no coincidence, as Marques is well aware that race control and F1's drivers have to be on the same team, even if contrasting opinions and agendas are an inevitable part of the motorsport.

"My way of working in all championships, not only here, was always to work with the drivers and the teams," he explained. "I never felt that we are on one side or the other. At the end of the day, we are part of the same show and we need to work together.

"Of course, I need to follow the rules, and safety is always the first thing. But at the end of the day, we all need to work together."

Marques pointed out it would be odd not to take feedback onboard from the drivers who are actually in the firing line every session: "In F1, I have the privilege of working with 20 of the best drivers, which means I need to take on all their experience.

"I never sat in an F1 car, of course, which means that if they tell me there's a problem on track and we don't see it, I need to trust that, and I need to work based on that.

"Saying that, of course it's not always possible to follow all the requests. It doesn't only depend on me, it depends also on the circuits, on the regulations and so on. But the work with them is going well, I'm really enjoying it."