Former Formulation 1 race director Niels Wittich has spoken up about his dismissal from the FIA in his first public feedback on the matter.
It was introduced on the eve of final November’s Las Vegas Grand Prix that Wittich will step down from his position on the FIA with fast impact. The announcement got here as a “shock” to many, with world champion Max Verstappen saying his exit was “bizarre”.
Talking as a visitor commentator throughout Sky Germany’s protection of pre-season testing in Bahrain, Wittich revealed “nobody has been in a position to give me a solution” as to why he was faraway from his place.
For him, the information on the time was “simply as stunning” because it was for outdoor observers.
“I noticed no indications that something wasn’t working or that there was any purpose to make a personnel change. So, in that sense, all of it got here as a whole shock. To at the present time,” the German remarked.
Wittich’s sudden dismissal in the course of the essential ultimate part of the 2024 championship sparked a storm of concern in F1, one largely directed at FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
“Should you take a look at it positively, you would flip latest occasions right into a actuality present of their very own,” Mercedes group principal Toto Wolff quipped at the moment.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President, FIA
Picture by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Photographs
Six-time grand prix winner Ralf Schumacher argued that the FIA was shedding a “really excellent race director” with Wittich in an interview with Motorsport Community’s Formel1.de YouTube channel, describing it as somebody who had “all the time made good choices.”
The choice additionally didn’t sit properly with the drivers’ union, the Grand Prix Drivers’ Affiliation.
“Some drivers are actually fed up with the state of affairs as a result of it simply retains going within the flawed route,” criticised its director George Russell at the moment.
The FIA by no means supplied an official purpose for Wittich’s departure. Reportedly, the choice got here straight from Ben Sulayem, who confirmed little interest in involving the drivers within the matter.
“It’s none of their enterprise. Sorry,” he stated on the time in an interview with Motorsport.com.
It’s believed that Ben Sulayem didn’t simply withhold an evidence from the general public, however he additionally by no means mentioned the choice with Wittich himself.
When requested whether or not he had tried to get clarification from his former employer concerning the causes for his dismissal, Wittich replied: “I did, the truth is. However nobody might give me a solution.
“To at the present time, no purpose has been given to me. And the final time I spoke with the FIA president was final yr in China. So I can’t say that we had any sort of falling out or a destructive relationship. I had comparatively little contact with him.”
Wittich was appointed as F1 race director forward of the 2022 season, initially alongside Eduardo Freitas, following heavy criticism of his predecessor, Michael Masi, and Masi’s controversial position within the notorious 2021 Abu Dhabi season finale.
From late 2022 onwards, Wittich served as the only race director for F1. Wanting again, he finds the abrupt ending to his tenure in 2024 “a disgrace.”
“It was an unbelievable pleasure to work with such a incredible group and to supervise such a tremendous sequence,” he stated. “Effectively, Formulation 1 will be fairly fast-moving with regards to personnel, whether or not on the group aspect or amongst officers. I simply have to just accept it for what it’s.”
On this article
Christian Nimmervoll
Formulation 1
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