‘No reason given to this day’

Former Components 1 race director Niels Wittich has spoken up about his dismissal from the FIA in his first public feedback on the matter.

It was announced on the eve of last November’s Las Vegas Grand Prix that Wittich will step down from his role at the FIA with immediate effect. 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 shocking” because it was for out of doors 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 throughout the essential ultimate part of the 2024 championship sparked a storm of concern in F1, one largely directed at FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

“In case you have a look at it positively, you would flip latest occasions right into a actuality present of their very own,” Mercedes staff principal Toto Wolff quipped at the moment.  

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President, FIA

Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Photographs

Six-time grand prix winner Ralf Schumacher argued that the FIA was shedding a “actually excellent race director” with Wittich in an interview with Motorsport Network‘s Formel1.de YouTube channel, describing it as somebody who had “all the time made good selections”.

The choice additionally didn’t sit effectively 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 unsuitable route,” criticised its director George Russell at the moment.  

The FIA by no means supplied an official purpose for Wittich’s departure. Allegedly, the choice got here instantly from Ben Sulayem, who confirmed no real interest in involving the drivers on the matter.

“It’s none of their enterprise. Sorry,” he mentioned on the time in an interview with Autosport.

It’s believed that Ben Sulayem didn’t simply withhold a proof 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, in truth. 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 form of falling out or a unfavorable relationship. I had comparatively little contact with him.”  

Niels Wittich, Race Director, FIA

Photograph by: Lionel Ng / Motorsport Photographs

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 function within the notorious 2021 Abu Dhabi season finale.

From late 2022 onwards, Wittich served as the only real race director for F1. Wanting again, he finds the abrupt ending to his tenure in 2024 “a disgrace.”

“It was an unimaginable pleasure to work with such a improbable staff and to supervise such an incredible sequence,” he mentioned. “Effectively, Components 1 might be fairly fast-moving with regards to personnel, whether or not on the staff aspect or amongst officers. I simply have to simply accept it for what it’s.”