Rui Marques’ first full 12 months in cost as Formulation 1 race director has earned him reward from main drivers. Chatting with Autosport, he defined why that response isn’t any coincidence.
The ultimate run of 2025 races marked Marques’ first full 12 months in cost as F1’s race director, having taken over from Niels Wittich on quick discover forward of the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix.
The Vegas avenue circuit and its difficult night-time logistics make it one of many hardest races on the calendar for race management, however Marques rapidly earned reward for his swift response to driver issues over observe markings, which some felt was a welcome departure from instances prior.
Marques’ responsiveness and willingness to behave on driver suggestions quickly proved the beginning of a pattern, regardless that the 54-year-old Portuguese is eager to minimise his personal contribution. Marques is heading a wider race management staff together with his deputy Claire Dubbelman, who spoke to Autosport last year about her journey in motorsport.
“It has been implausible,” Marques informed Autosport in an interview in direction of the top of final season. “I might say the vast majority of race administrators would dream of this seat. In fact, it is a scorching seat. Let’s make it clear. However saying this, I’ve an important staff with me. It is not a one-man present.
“There’s 5 of us in race management. We have now extra folks in Geneva with a secondary race management. There is a massive staff behind me. Nevertheless it has been implausible. I actually take pleasure in it.”
Marques is backed by a bigger staff in race management, together with his deputy Dubbelman
Photograph by: Michael Potts / Motorsport Photos
Together with his huge quantity of expertise throughout nearly each stage of FIA-sanctioned motor racing, transferring as much as F1 was a logical step for Marques, and it goes a way in direction of explaining why it was comparatively simple for him to fit into the function.
“As a race director I accomplished all of the steps,” he defined. “In single-seaters I did all classes: F4, Formulation Regional, F3 and F2. I additionally did touring vehicles, world endurance, Le Mans, which implies I’ve all that background. However in fact, F1 is one other stage, so the requirements are even larger.”
When requested for his perspective, GPDA director Carlos Sainz gave F1’s newest race director the thumbs up.
“Truthfully, I can solely say good issues about Rui,” Sainz mentioned on the finish of November. “The best way he is stood as much as the job and delivered from the get-go, the way in which he is listened to us, the way in which he is attempting to use that – he is one of many key figures behind us drivers feeling snug when somebody with good judgement and customary sense is main that function.
“Along with Tim [Malyon, FIA sporting director], they have been doing an excellent job and I am truthfully very, very proud of the way in which they have been appearing. That is why the one factor we have to remedy in the meanwhile is this example with the rules, the penalties and all that.”
Earlier in 2025, fellow GPDA director George Russell made related feedback. “I feel it has been very refreshing having Rui on board, to be sincere. I really feel he and Tim have been exceptionally receptive. They pay attention and so they react, and I feel collectively, we’re all considerably happier now with the place we’re.”
FIA race management
Photograph by: Rolex / James Moy
That reward isn’t any coincidence, as Marques is nicely conscious that race management and F1’s drivers need to be on the identical staff, even when contrasting opinions and agendas are an inevitable a part of the motorsport.
“My method of working in all championships, not solely right here, was at all times to work with the drivers and the groups,” he defined. “I by no means felt that we’re on one facet or the opposite. On the finish of the day, we’re a part of the identical present and we have to work collectively.
“In fact, I must comply with the foundations, and security is at all times the very first thing. However on the finish of the day, all of us must work collectively.”
Marques identified it might be odd to not take suggestions onboard from the drivers who’re truly within the firing line each session: “In F1, I’ve the privilege of working with 20 of the very best drivers, which implies I must tackle all their expertise.
“I by no means sat in an F1 automobile, in fact, which implies that in the event that they inform me there’s an issue on observe and we do not see it, I must belief that, and I must work primarily based on that.
“Saying that, in fact it isn’t at all times doable to comply with all of the requests. It does not solely rely on me, it relies upon additionally on the circuits, on the rules and so forth. However the work with them goes nicely, I am actually having fun with it.”
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