The sudden departure of Method 1’s race director Niels Wittich has caught all the paddock unexpectedly and is leaving the beleaguered governing physique with extra questions than solutions, some extra uncomfortable than others.
Was Wittich pushed or did he leap?
The FIA introduced on Tuesday Wittich was “stepping down” after lower than three seasons as F1’s race director, two of which by himself after initially splitting duties with FIA WEC race director Eduardo Freitas. And whereas thanking the 52-year-old German for his providers, the phrase that Wittich left to “pursue different pursuits” is the oldest trick within the ebook to counsel somebody has been dismissed reasonably than stepped again voluntarily. And certainly it quickly emerged that the choice didn’t come from Wittich, who appeared to substantiate to the German outlet Motorsport Magazin that he was solely informed hours earlier than the FIA assertion that his providers have been not required. Senior sources have since confirmed to Motorsport.com that Wittich was let go.
Funnily sufficient, Wittich just isn’t even the primary FIA race director to be mentioned to “pursue different pursuits”, with Roger Lane-Nott’s departure in 1996 described in the identical phrases. After a troublesome single season as F1’s race director, former submarine commander Lane-Nott was changed by FIA president Max Mosley by the a lot missed Charlie Whiting.
Why did Wittich go now?
Essentially the most puzzling facet of Wittich’s substitute by F2 and F3 director Rui Marques is the timing, with three races left to run within the 2024 marketing campaign and one week earlier than F1 travels to Las Vegas. Whereas there had been rumours about FIA president Mohamed Ben Sulayem taking a look at making a change, the shock timing of the announcement has appeared to taken many individuals within the paddock unexpectedly, not least folks throughout the FIA itself.
Race management had caught flack on the Brazilian Grand Prix, with Purple Bull sad with the timing of a pink flag in qualifying that it felt price Max Verstappen, and with questions raised over the late digital security automotive name within the dash race for a stricken Nico Hulkenberg. However usually Wittich has been properly regarded and uncontroversial, and acknowledged by many as doing a really troublesome job comparatively properly below difficult circumstances, returning some stability to the position after Michael Masi’s fraught spell on the helm.
There has additionally been unease over the consistency of judging incidents and handing out penalties, but it surely have to be identified that this doesn’t fall below race management, which may solely refer incidents to the stewards for them to guage additional.
Niels Wittich, FIA
Picture by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Pictures
Wittich’s substitute will now be dropped into the hotseat forward of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, which is operationally one of the crucial difficult circuits to handle. It’s removed from a perfect state of affairs for somebody new to the position, with controlling an F1 race an enormous step up from different FIA sequence.
The race across the famed Las Vegas Strip ultimately made a profitable debut final 12 months, however not earlier than a number of teething points in follow, essentially the most spectacular being Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz struggling a heavy crash after dislodging a water valve cowl at full velocity.
The long-lasting boulevard itself can also be re-opened to the general public earlier than and after the on-track motion, including to the complexity of the occasion.
Who’s Wittich’s substitute?
Wittich’s substitute Rui Marques is one other properly regarded determine throughout the FIA, who joined the governing physique in 2014. Following a spell because the deputy race director within the FIA’s World Touring Automotive Cup, the Portuguese moved throughout to single-seaters and have become the race director for F2 and F3 in 2022. Marques additionally has earlier expertise as a global steward and circuit inspector, giving him a strong all-round perspective of all of the shifting elements concerned in FIA sanctioned racing.
What does this say concerning the FIA?
Regardless of the ulterior motives behind Wittich’s removing, his shock exit comes off the again of a string of high-profile departures from the governing physique below president Ben Sulayem, whose heavy-handed strategy has rubbed lots of people the unsuitable approach.
In October the FIA parted methods with its director of communications Luke Skipper and secretary basic of mobility Jacob Bangsgaard. Late final 12 months each sporting director Steve Nielsen and single-seater technical director Tim Goss resigned, whereas head of the FIA Girls in Motorsport Fee Deborah Mayer additionally left. The FIA’s first CEO Natalie Robyn additionally give up the organisation in Might after lower than two years within the position.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem
Picture by: Dom Romney / Motorsport Pictures
Following the most recent departures in October, the FIA was eager to announce the appointment of Alberto Villarreal as basic supervisor and new Senior HR Director Alessandra Malhame.
Ben Sulayem has additionally alienated F1’s driver corps via clampdowns on using jewelry and swearing, the latter netting Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc punishments in current races. Final week the drivers union GPDA referred to as on Ben Sulayem to deal with drivers as adults and rethink his strategy.
In an interview with Motorsport.com in September, Ben Sulayem acknowledged that it was exhausting for the FIA to seek out certified race administrators, asserting a brand new division to coach officers from grassroots degree.
“We’ve a problem and the problem is that we do not have [enough] race administrators. You can not get them organized on Amazon or Google. No, you must prepare them,” he mentioned. “If we take what we’re doing at present in Method 1, you can’t depend on one. God forbid one thing occurs to him. So, now we have to have the ability to meet the extent of demand and have a pathway that’s good.
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“We’ve departments for a lot of issues, however we [didn’t] have a division for one factor which is sort of a spinal twine for us, which is the stewarding and race path. So, now now we have a correct division.”
The most recent high-profile departure, in a division which Ben Sulayem has admitted is a pinch level for the organisation, is not going to ease calls from F1 groups clamouring for extra stability. Subsequently the FIA, which has been tight-lipped about all of it, may have some explaining to do.
