Niels Wittichthe race director of Formula 1has resigned from his role with immediate effect to pursue new job opportunities. This was confirmed in an official press release by the International Automobile Federation, which has also already chosen his replacement: the Portuguese Rui Marques, who played the same role in Formula 2 and Formula 3.
The German Wittich, 52 years old, had taken over from Michael Masioverwhelmed by controversy over the management of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the last race of that season, which awarded the drivers’ title to Max Verstappen to the detriment of di Lewis Hamilton.
Wittich had assumed the role in 2022
From the beginning of 2022 Wittich alternated in the role with another Portuguese, Eduardo Freitas, who however was no longer confirmed after the Suzuka GP of that year when – without interrupting the race with red flags, which was run in the rain – he brought a bulldozer onto the track to recover Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari, the victim of an accident. A choice with a high safety risk that infuriated the drivers and effectively ended their F1 career.
Wittich was replaced by Portuguese Rui Marques
Wittich has also often ended up at the center of controversy, fueled by those who have always considered him not very reactive in making decisions. The latest protests in Brazil, when Verstappen he had complained because the race director had not promptly stopped qualifying due to Stroll’s accident.
In its press release, the FIA clarifies that “Rui Marques will take over the role of Race Director starting from the Las Vegas Grand Prix”. The Portuguese is the fifth F1 race director in just over five years, demonstrating the difficulties encountered by who preceded him in the role.
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