The Formula One race director, Niels Wittich, has stepped down from his post with immediate effect in an unexpected decision announced by the FIA on Tuesday. He will be replaced by Rui Marques, who was previously the race director for Formula Two and Formula Three.
Wittich’s departure came as a surprise to F1 and is highly unusual in its timing given there are three races of the 2024 season still remaining. The FIA did not give any reason for him leaving but stated: “The FIA can confirm that Niels Wittich has stepped down from his position as F1 Race Director to pursue new opportunities”. Portugal’s Marques will take over from the next round in Las Vegas.
Wittich has made no comment on why he has stepped down mid-season but he is the latest in a line of senior FIA officials to leave. In the past 12 months the chief executive, Natalie Robyn, moved on after only 18 months in post, as have the sporting director, Steve Nielsen, the technical director, Tim Goss, and the head of the FIA commission for women, Deborah Mayer, in what has been a further period of turbulence for the FIA president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
Ben Sulayem has presided over a string of controversies since he took over in 2021. Most recently he was publicly upbraided in a statement by the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association who maintained they should be treated like adults after the FIA clamped down on swearing by punishing Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc and specifically demanded Ben Sulayem mind his “tone and language”.
Wittich took over from Michael Masi after his highly controversial decisions at the Abu Dhabi GP in 2021. Wittich initially shared the role with Eduardo Freitas and Marques will now be the fourth person to take on the job since Charlie Whiting, who had been in the role since 1997, died in 2019.
F1 is to celebrate its 75th anniversary next year with its first season-launch event which will comprise of all 10 teams unveiling their liveries together at a major show at London’s O2 Arena on 18 February. All 20 drivers will be in attendance alongside their team principals and cars in what is described as an interactive event, featuring interviews with key figures from the sport, as well as live music. Tickets will go on sale on Friday.
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On Tuesday Aston Martin also announced that Dan Fallows has stepped down as technical director of the team but will remain as part of their operation. His replacement has yet to be named. Alpine have also confirmed their expected switch to using Mercedes engines from 2026 onwards and at which point their parent company Renault will cease its role as an F1 engine manufacturer.