MotorSports
Jul 13, 2025
  • Motorsports News
  • Formula 1
  • IndyCar
  • NASCAR
  • Rally
  • SportsCars
  • Touring
  • WEC
Font ResizerAa
MotorSportsMotorSports
Search
  • Categories
  • Forums
  • More Foxiz
    • Blog Index
    • Sitemap
Sign In Sign In
Follow US
Made by ThemeRuby using the Foxiz theme. Powered by WordPress
F1 drivers “stunned” by “bizarre” departure of FIA race director Wittich
Formula 1

F1 drivers “stunned” by “bizarre” departure of FIA race director Wittich

By Miles Cooper November 21, 2024
SHARE
- Advertisement -

World champion Max Verstappen thinks it’s “bizarre” that the FIA elected to axe Method 1 race director Niels Wittich earlier than the top of the season.

The FIA dropped a bombshell after the Brazilian Grand Prix when it introduced that Wittich wouldn’t be remaining in his place, and as a substitute would get replaced from the Las Vegas spherical by Rui Marques.

Though there was no official clarification about why Wittich left, high-level sources have instructed that he was sacked amid a falling out with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

At a time when the drivers and Ben Sulayem should not seeing eye-to-eye on various issues, the sudden swap of race administrators has brought on additional unease.

Learn Additionally:

Requested what his response was when he noticed the information, Verstappen mentioned: “I learn the information and I simply continued with my day.

“In fact it’s a bit bizarre with three races to go to try this. It doesn’t matter if you’re constructive or damaging about sure issues, and I believed in Brazil, for instance, there was positively room for enchancment, however it’s nonetheless bizarre now having to take care of a unique race director.

“Usually if you wish to change a race director then do it after the season, after which you’ve gotten a little bit of time for the race director himself to stand up to hurry with issues.

“Then you’ve gotten pre-season testing, and also you get into your function a bit extra. However let’s see the way it goes. They’ve determined it, and we now have to take care of it.”

F1 drivers “stunned” by “bizarre” departure of FIA race director Wittich

Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing, talks to the media

Picture by: Lubomir Asenov / Motorsport Pictures

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc revealed that drivers had had zero warning in regards to the change taking place – as he too mentioned it was removed from superb taking place proper now.

“Yeah, that got here out a little bit of nowhere,” he commented. “I feel we have been all stunned.

“Greater than talking in regards to the choice, which we will all have our personal opinion [about], I feel the timing was a bit stunning, and to do it so late within the season at such a vital second. It might have most likely been managed in a greater approach.

“Other than that, it would not basically change our relationship with the FIA. It is clearly a steady technique of attempting to make that relationship and that dialogue higher with the intention to make our sport higher.

“There are issues to enhance, for certain, and we try to work with the FIA to make it higher. However yeah, fairly stunned with the timing of that.”

Whereas the small print surrounding why Wittich fell out of favour should not recognized, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri instructed there was no grounds for pondering he had finished something that justified being dropped.

“I had no concept that something was even being deliberate,” mentioned the Australian. “I truly heard it from another person, one of many different drivers, or an article someplace. So it was positively a little bit of a shock.

Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team

Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Workforce

Picture by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Pictures

“I feel on the entire, Niels was doing an affordable job. I feel there have been some issues that we wished to enhance, some issues bought higher, some perhaps did not, however, yeah, I definitely do not suppose it warranted an instantaneous sacking. I do not know the way it bought phrased, but it surely looks as if a little bit of a unique image than the way it was phrased, so I do not know.

“We’ll see what the brand new race director is like. I’ve not had any expertise with him earlier than.”

Carlos Sainz mentioned {that a} good relationship between drivers and race director was crucial, as he hoped issues would get off to a very good begin with Marques.

“I feel it is extraordinarily vital, that co-operation and that collaboration between racing drivers and race director,” he mentioned. “A whole lot of choices that the race director takes are influenced by the suggestions that we give in regards to the observe, the situations and every little thing.

“I’m kindly asking from right here simply to the brand new one to be open-minded, to hearken to us, to understand our suggestions as a result of if we are saying issues with an intention of fixing the observe or we talk one thing within the radio it’s as a result of we really consider that.

“So we’re simply asking for cooperation, collaboration, and an open relationship – then every little thing ought to be clean.

“I’m wishing the most effective as a result of it is a powerful job and he is been given a really powerful job, which is to return right into a championship with solely three races left.”

Extra reporting by Ronald Vording and Filip Cleeren

- Advertisement --
TAGGED:departuredirectordriversFIAracesurprisedweirdWittich
Previous Article Aston Martin publicizes WEC Hypercar drivers, will not make 2025 Daytona 24 Aston Martin publicizes WEC Hypercar drivers, will not make 2025 Daytona 24
Next Article F1 star interrogated at US border earlier than Las Vegas GP: ‘I used to be sporting pyjamas’ F1 star interrogated at US border earlier than Las Vegas GP: ‘I used to be sporting pyjamas’
Leave a Comment Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


- Advertisement -
Trackhouse owner Justin Marks to drive NASCAR Cup car at Goodwood
Trackhouse owner Justin Marks to drive NASCAR Cup car at Goodwood
NASCAR
Newly Formed Genesis Magma Racing Team to Chase Championships – Car and Driver
Newly Formed Genesis Magma Racing Team to Chase Championships – Car and Driver
WEC
F1 Academy Teams Up with Gatorade to Empower the Next Generation of Female Drivers!
F1 Academy Teams Up with Gatorade to Empower the Next Generation of Female Drivers!
Formula 1
Could 23XI Racing’s Star Be Headed for a New Team? NASCAR Expert Weighs In!
Could 23XI Racing’s Star Be Headed for a New Team? NASCAR Expert Weighs In!
NASCAR
Wright Motorsports Races into Action at the Detroit Grand Prix!
Wright Motorsports Races into Action at the Detroit Grand Prix!
SportsCars
Revolutionizing the Track: How GRIDLIFE’s Touring Cup is Transforming North American Club Racing
Revolutionizing the Track: How GRIDLIFE’s Touring Cup is Transforming North American Club Racing
Touring

Categories

Archives

November 2024
MTWTFSS
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
252627282930 
« Oct   Dec »

You Might Also Like

Unique: Contained in the secrets and techniques of F1’s new driver cooling package
Formula 1

Unique: Contained in the secrets and techniques of F1’s new driver cooling package

By Miles Cooper December 23, 2024
Horner on Pink Bull and Ford’s ‘largest problem’ with 2026 energy unit
Formula 1

Horner on Pink Bull and Ford’s ‘largest problem’ with 2026 energy unit

By Miles Cooper February 13, 2025
Wolff says Mercedes error that value Hamilton was “inexcusable”
Formula 1

Wolff says Mercedes error that value Hamilton was “inexcusable”

By Miles Cooper December 7, 2024
A brand new house for Lewis Hamilton and might anybody cease Max Verstappen? All the things you might want to know concerning the 2025 F1 season
Formula 1

A brand new house for Lewis Hamilton and might anybody cease Max Verstappen? All the things you might want to know concerning the 2025 F1 season

By Miles Cooper March 14, 2025
Toto Wolff Predicts Lewis Hamilton Will Shine Brightly at Ferrari in F1
Formula 1

Toto Wolff Predicts Lewis Hamilton Will Shine Brightly at Ferrari in F1

By Olivia Williams May 3, 2025
Particulars of Hamilton’s first F1 checks with Ferrari emerge
Formula 1

Particulars of Hamilton’s first F1 checks with Ferrari emerge

By Miles Cooper January 6, 2025

MotorSports-News

@2024 – All Right Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?