F1 race director Wittich steps down with immediate effect

The FIA has announced Formula 1 race director Niels Wittich has left his role with immediate effect.

On Tuesday the FIA said in a statement that the German had left his position ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix to "pursue new opportunities".

“The FIA can confirm that Niels Wittich has stepped down from his position as F1 Race Director to pursue new opportunities," the statement said.

"Niels has fulfilled his numerous responsibilities as Race Director with professionalism and dedication. We thank him for his commitment and we wish him the best for the future."

Portugal's Rui Marques, who has acted as F2's and F3's race director for the past two years, will take over from Wittich from Las Vegas onwards.

In turn, Marques will be replaced for the final two F2 rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi by Jannette Tan, who was already in position as the deputy race director.

"Rui Marques will assume the role of Race Director from the Las Vegas Grand Prix," the FIA stated.

"Rui brings a wealth of experience having previously served as track marshal, scrutineer, national and international steward, Deputy Race Director and Race Director in various championships. Most recently, he held the position of Formula 2 and Formula 3 Race Director.”

Niels Wittich, Race Director, FIA, talks to Jonathan Wheatley, Team Manager, Red Bull Racing, in the paddock

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Among other roles, Wittich has been F1's race director since 2022, replacing Michael Masi after the controversial finish to 2021's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Wittich initially shared the role with FIA WEC race director Eduardo Freitas, before taking over the role full-time later that year.

Previously, the 52-year-old German was a race director in the German DTM championship.

The sudden news, with three races left to run in the current campaign, comes as a surprise. And it means F1 is now set for its fourth race director since the passing of Charlie Whiting, who died on the eve of the 2019 Australian Grand Prix.

Speaking to Autosport earlier this year, FIA president Mohamed Ben Sulayem admitted the governing body is already struggling to find qualified race directors like Wittich, and said the FIA would put together a new Officials Department to help train the next generation of race directors and stewards.

“If you look at our officials and race directors: we have an issue and the issue is that we don't have [enough] race directors," Ben Sulayem said. "You cannot order them on Amazon or Google. No, you have to make them, you have to train them.”

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem

Photo by: Dom Romney / Motorsport Images

Wittich is the latest in a string of high-profile FIA officials to leave their roles over the past 12 months.

It comes soon after Ben Sulayem sparked fresh controversy ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix as he called for a clampdown on swearing, with sanctions handed out to Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc. The penalties were met by a strongly worded statement by the drivers' union GPDA, who urged the governing body's president to reconsider his approach.