The Method 1 race director is answerable for race operations at each grand prix in the course of the season.
They’re accountable for a spread of important components in the course of the race weekend, together with:
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sending out the protection automobile
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managing the marshals stationed across the circuit
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figuring out which flags are proven to drivers at completely different factors of the race
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monitoring observe limits violations
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urgent the button which makes the lights on the grid exit to sign the beginning of the grand prix
It’s a demanding position, wherein doubtlessly life-and-death security choices have to be taken in a matter of seconds, alongside making certain the honest working of an infinite sporting occasion.
It’s the stewards, slightly than the race director, who examine on-track incidents and resolve on the penalties that are dished out to drivers discovered responsible of misdemeanours.
The race director is employed by the FIA, motorsport’s governing physique. F1 has now had 4 completely different race administrators prior to now three years.
Charlie Whiting was F1 race director for over 20 years till his sudden dying forward of the 2019 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. Whiting had earned a level in mechanical engineering earlier than rising to chief mechanic of the Brabham F1 crew, overseeing Nelson Piquet’s two title successes in 1981 and 1983.
He was changed by Michael Masi, who had mixed research in advertising and marketing with voluntary positions in low-level motor racing sequence early in his profession. The Australian rose up the ranks to turn into race director of Method 2 and three earlier than his promotion to F1. He was ultimately faraway from the place after an error within the controversial 2021 season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Niels Wittich then took on the position at the side of Eduardo Freitas, the pair having been race administrators in DTM and World Endurance Championship respectively, earlier than turning into sole race director within the latter a part of the 2022 season.
The FIA announced Wittich’s departure forward of the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix, with Rui Marques – who first joined the FIA in 2012 and has labored as race director in a wide range of sequence – taking on.
51-year-old Marques is stepping up from F2 and F3, having beforehand labored on the World Touring Automotive Championship and in karting in his native Portugal.
