Barely a month goes by with out a senior departure from the FIA it appears, however the newest exit raises some critical considerations. Niels Wittich leaving immediately as F1 race director follows a worrying pattern at motorsport’s governing physique and one wonders what’s inflicting it.
Wittich had held the place since 2022, when he changed Michael Masi following the Australian’s controversial dealing with of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and was a well-liked determine throughout the organisation.
The German had began incomes the respect of F1’s drivers too. Throughout race weekend briefings with the drivers, he didn’t at all times have all of the solutions, however he was getting there.
The timing of his departure – and the very fact it’s speedy – is most undoubtedly peculiar and requires extra scrutiny. Sources say it was unprecedented and that it comes three races from the tip of the season makes the event much more uncommon.
Others have intimated that it has come after a fallout with FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, however this has not been confirmed.
Regardless of the motive for Wittich’s exit, it’s a part of a worrying pattern because the FIA appears to be like to be incapable of retaining senior workers.
Luke Skipper, former director of communications, left the FIA in October 2024.
This coincided with the departure of Jacob Bangsgaard, the previous secretary common of mobility. Steve Nielsen additionally left his role as sporting director at the FIA in December 2023, simply earlier than single-seater technical director Tim Goss followed suit.
The FIA has misplaced a number of key members of workers in current months
Picture by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Photos
Different departures from the FIA embrace the pinnacle of business authorized affairs and the governance and regulatory director. Unsurprisingly, insiders say that morale is extremely low on the organisation, which has been perplexed by the exits of “good folks”.
The timing of Wittich’s exit is fascinating. F1 is gripped in a championship battle and at a time the place robust and constant management and decision-making is significant.
It additionally comes after a strongly-worded letter from the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, which took purpose on the FIA President. Has Wittich paid the value for that assertion within the type of his job, regardless of not being the one criticised? We don’t know at this stage.
Because the battered and bruised FIA organisation limps over the end line after one other F1 marketing campaign the place it has been in focus far an excessive amount of for a regulatory physique, now could be the time for some critical change.
Wittich had initially shared the function with World Endurance Championship race director Eduardo Freitas after they had been each introduced in to switch Masi. He was himself an emergency substitute for the wonderful Charlie Whiting, who sadly passed away on the eve of the 2019 Australian GP.
What’s evidently turning into clearer is that the FIA must rethink the construction it has for governing F1 races. With 24 races on the calendar, it is just too a lot for one particular person to supervise.
As with the ad-hoc appointment of race stewards, who work below the race director, too many questions are actually being requested by drivers concerning the consistency of decision-making.
The increasing calendar means the function of race director is vastly pressured
Picture by: Lubomir Asenov / Motorsport Photos
It’s clearly evident that F1 wants an expert, rotating group of race stewards, who will not be solely answerable to the FIA President, however clarify their decision-making to the drivers and certainly the media.
PLUS: How an answer to the FIA president’s gripes lies in a pre-Abu Dhabi 2021 arrangement
Wittich’s exit appears like one other big loss. Nevertheless it must also present the FIA with a possibility to make a constructive change.
The issue is, will there be anyone left there to implement it?
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