F1 2024 - News/Regulation change/Developments

The FIA has announced Formula 1 race director Niels Wittich has left his role with immediate effect.

On Tuesday the FIA said in a statement that the German had left his position ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix to "pursue new opportunities".

“The FIA can confirm that Niels Wittich has stepped down from his position as F1 Race Director to pursue new opportunities," the statement said.

"Niels has fulfilled his numerous responsibilities as Race Director with professionalism and dedication. We thank him for his commitment and we wish him the best for the future."

Portugal's Rui Marques, who has acted as F2's and F3's race director for the past two years, will take over from Wittich from Las Vegas onwards.

 

Another 'Destination City Event' via Liberty. A super-bowl of reveals!

 

Alpine announces Mercedes F1 engine deal for 2026 and beyond
Alpine's controversial engine switch is finally confirmed as it will no longer produce its own Formula 1 power units

 

Time for the FIA to find a new leader and rebuild. So many gone from key positions in a few months/over the season now.

Ben Hunt: Wittich departure raises more concern with the FIA
OPINION: Just what is going on at the FIA? After another senior member of staff leaves F1’s governing body, it is time for a change
Ben Hunt Nov 12, 2024, 6:02 PM

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/ben-hunt-wittich-departure-raises-more-concern-with-the-fia/10672475/

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Niels Wittich, Race Director, FIA

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Barely a month goes by without a senior departure from the FIA it seems, but the latest exit raises some serious concerns. Niels Wittich leaving immediately as F1 race director follows a worrying trend at motorsport’s governing body and one wonders what is causing it.

Wittich had held the position since 2022, when he replaced Michael Masi following the Australian’s controversial handling of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and was a popular figure within the organisation.

The German had started earning the respect of F1's drivers too. During race weekend briefings with the drivers, he did not always have all the answers, but he was getting there.

The timing of his departure - and the fact it is immediate - is most definitely peculiar and requires more scrutiny. Sources say it was unprecedented and that it comes three races from the end of the season makes the development even more unusual.

Others have intimated that it has come after a fallout with FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, but this has not been confirmed.

Whatever the reason for Wittich’s exit, it is part of a worrying trend as the FIA looks to be incapable of retaining senior staff.

Luke Skipper, former director of communications, left the FIA in October 2024.

This coincided with the departure of Jacob Bangsgaard, the former secretary general of mobility. Steve Nielsen also left his role as sporting director at the FIA in December 2023, just before single-seater technical director Tim Goss followed suit.

The FIA has lost several key members of staff in recent months

Other departures from the FIA include the head of commercial legal affairs and the governance and regulatory director. Unsurprisingly, insiders say that morale is incredibly low at the organisation, which has been perplexed by the exits of “good people”.

The timing of Wittich’s exit is interesting. F1 is gripped in a championship battle and at a time where strong and consistent leadership and decision-making is vital.

It also comes after a strongly-worded letter from the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, which took aim at the FIA President. Has Wittich paid the price for that statement in the form of his job, despite not being the one criticised? We don’t know at this stage.

As the battered and bruised FIA organisation limps over the finish line after another F1 campaign where it has been in focus far too much for a regulatory body, now is the time for some serious change.

Wittich had initially shared the role with World Endurance Championship race director Eduardo Freitas when they were both brought in to replace Masi. He was himself an emergency replacement for the excellent Charlie Whiting, who sadly passed away on the eve of the 2019 Australian GP.

What is evidently becoming clearer is that the FIA needs to rethink the structure it has for governing F1 races. With 24 races on the calendar, it is simply too much for one person to oversee.

As with the ad-hoc appointment of race stewards, who work under the race director, too many questions are now being asked by drivers about the consistency of decision-making.

The expanding calendar means the role of race director is hugely pressured

It is clearly evident that F1 needs a professional, rotating group of race stewards, who are not only answerable to the FIA President, but explain their decision-making to the drivers and indeed the media.

Wittich’s exit feels like another huge loss. But it should also provide the FIA with an opportunity to make a positive change.

The problem is, will there be anybody left there to implement it?

 

The drivers got Wittich fired, very glad about that. He had been acting like a jail guard for too long, not respecting them, coming up with ridiculous demeaning rules, good riddance!

 

Well the replacement has little F1 experience etc. The real issue is the FIA leader.

Via SKY F1:
Senior sources have told me that he has effectively been sacked, that there wasn't a volition in terms of him deciding to leave his job with three races to go. That is obviously contrary to what the FIA have put out in their statement.

What I have also learned, and this has been explained to me by several sources, is that the relationship between Wittich and the FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem was also somewhat at odds, and that has been a contributory factor today.

 

Yes we need a better FIA leader...

 

So they monetize this lol. In the past this was done for free. Now 113 £ a ticket for the new event!!

—Back in 2019, Formula 1 bosses held a season-opening event in Australia to kick off the new campaign. All the drivers attended the show that was held on a big stage in Melbourne’s Federation Square, which incidentally was free, and it was a standout success.—

 

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/surprise-f1-exit-hints-at-more-fia-tension/

More on Wittich - The BBC reports Wittich was set to be dropped anyway and his early exit comes “as a result of his relationship” with Ben Sulayem.

Sounds like Wittich decided to leave than deal with Ben Sulayem. Toxic that leader appears to be. The FIA statements about this are utter trash. When one looks at who has left the FIA the verdict on the leader is rather ugly. So the Race Director has left as well as the CEO, Legal Chief etc.

This will be a large story as the new race director will be officiating a night race to start on a street circuit. HIs impact can be interesting as both titles are not set yet.

 

Maffei to step down as CEO of F1 owner Liberty Media
Greg Maffei will leave his role at the end of the year after not signing a new contract - John Malone to assume position in the interim

 

I would be surprised to see that. Renault plan on using that facility to make other motorsport engines they will support.

 

There was a rumour that GM (Cadillac) was interested to acquire the IP of the F1 engine Renault was working on for the 2026 formula.
The Viry-Chatillon plant doesn't work only on F1 engine, but on different powertrain projects for endurance, FE, and is also a reseach and development center for Renault engines, also working for Nissan and Mercedes in the past.
I would be surprised if Renault wanted to sell it its R&D center, but the data and blueprints of their 2026 F1 PU may be available though.

 

Is this to make way for Andretti Global to get in F1 ? LOL

 

FIA approves driver cooling kits from 2025 in F1
The FIA will be able to mandate cooling kits in extreme heat from the 2025 Formula 1 season

 

Not sure. He has been an Executive in Liberty since 2005. Thats a significant amount of time. I sense Domenicali rising overall.

 

F1 announces new Monaco GP deal to 2031
The Monaco Grand Prix will remain on the Formula 1 calendar until 2031, the series has announced.

The Monaco Grand Prix is here to stay in F1 - after agreeing a new deal until the 2031 season.

Its previous contract was to expire after the 2025 race, but talks between F1 and Monaco's Automobile Club have agreed terms on a new six-year contract.

From 2026, the race will move to a new slot in the calendar, on the first weekend in June, having been held on the final Sunday in May every year since 2004, bar 2021.

No changes are to be made to the track--( THANKS LIBERTY LOL)

 

Anyone that pays is a sucker anyways. Car launches have nothing but a massive disappointment. They used to actually launch a new car. Now they launch the latest livery or at best some fake pile of parts that changes completely in pre season testing. As for the liveries, you get 90% bare carbon and a few strips of paint and a bunch of stickers. Yippy.

 

Another L for F1.

Sorry to all the fans desperately hanging onto tradition. Monaco is the absolute worst track for an F1 race. Imagine dedicating a venue that it is literally impossible to pass on as the crown jewel of your sport.

 

Well, they got the calendar change, so I’m sure F1 chalks this up as a big W.

 

At least Monaco and Indy won't be the same day any more.

 

Monaco could become purely a whole week event for historic racing with a veteran and vintage cars parade on different days.
The classic car auction could be expended and a fashion show with a jewelry exhibition added to complement.
There could also arrange an art gallery in the palace courtyard and organise a regata in the harbour.
All these activities with the Prince in attendance should attract "the right crowd* " and keep Monaco in splendour and tradition.


* Pre-war Brooklands used to advertise itself a "The right crowd, and no crowding".

 

Considering Monaco is a huge money maker for Formula 1, they surely consider it a big W.