The new Formula One racer director, Rui Marques made his debut at the las Vegas Grand Prix last time out. This followed the shock sacking of Neils Wittich. By the FIA with just three races to go.
The drivers were upset with the FIA for failing to include them in discussions over Wittich departure with many saying they learned the news through the F1 media.
Wittich was part of a double act back in 2022 when he rotated the role of F1 race director with Edward Freitas. However, the latter made what could have been a fatal mistake at the rain drenched Japanese Grand Prix that year, instructing a recovery vehicle to enter the circuit while cars were still hurtling through the spray at speeds over 200kph.
Revolving door of FIA personnel
It was understandable to most in F1 why Freitas was dismissed, but there remains a puzzled air in the Qatar paddock as to why Wittich was summarily removed from his role.
“The FIA can confirm that Niels Wittich has stepped down from his position as F1 Race Director to pursue new opportunities,” read a statement published by the FIA, yet Sky F1’s senior journalist Craig Slater said this was not the case.
“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,” the pundit told Sky Sports News.
That said, the drivers reported en masse an entirely positive weekend with the new race director with dome suggesting Wittich had been given their thoughts over certain matters, but were on the whole ignored.
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George Russell is a spokesman for the F1 drivers association came out after the Friday drivers briefing was asked of his impression of Marques. “Positive, to be honest. We’ve been through a little bit of an era where our comments are taken on board, but very little change happens.
“For example, a number of drivers spoke about the track limits at Turn 4. We felt it was a little bit unnecessary on a street circuit and he made a change to it in the moment.
“That is what we want to see as drivers, we all want to be heard and we want to see action taken straightaway – so far it has been positive.”
A number of driers arriving in Qatar were asked about the F1 race directors performance in the race along the Strip and again he received a positive billing. Although during the Grand Prix there was a moment when Sky pundit Karun Chandhok questioned whether Marques had applied the rules correctly as Carlos Sainz appeared to be in breach of pit lane entry regulations.
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Sainz pit lane transgression
The Spaniard had been asking for fresh rubber for two laps but Ferrari strategy dithered believing their simulations meant he should go further into the race. As the pace clearly began to drop of a cliff for Sainz, Ferrari decided to allow him to box. The instruction was given then as Carlos entered the pit entry his engineer aborted the pit stop.
Sainz crossed back over the solid white line delimitating the pit lane entry and back on the the main straight, at which a number of TV pundits immediately cried was deserving of a penalty. Fortunately behind him Lewis Hamilton had decided to pit which may have saved the pair from a high speed crash in front of the massed grandstands.
Later that evening it became evident Marques had decided the matter was covered by noting a track limits violation but the widely expected time penalty was not forthcoming given it was not a breach of pit lane rules.
Each circuit has specific local regulations which are covered in the race director notes, published before the cars hit the track at each race weekend. In Las Vegas the pit entry road is covered by separate regulations than the pit lane itself, which meant the Ferrari driver in fact had not broken the rules.
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Pit entry and lane treated the same in Qatar
This is all change this weekend in Qatar, where the section of the circuit where the solid white line begins to mark the pit road entry. Any driver inside that solid white line must not return to the circuit before a trip down the pit lane is completed.
The FIA revolving front door was in action again since Las Vegas, as the Chairman of the F1 stewards was relieved of his duties. Tim Mayer was sacked with immediate effect and he subsequently claimed F1’s governing body is “running out of people to do those jobs” after multiple recent departures.
Gone this week too is Janette Tan, who had been set to replace new Formula 1 race director Rui Marques in the role of race director for Formula 2 and Formula 3, has also left the FIA. Speaking to the BBC Mayer remarked, “I know how hard both of those jobs are. I like Rui a lot, but it will put him under incredible pressure.”
“There aren’t a lot of ‘platinum-level’ FIA race directors, which is the FIA’s highest level certification. I’m one of them. It’s a lot of work and, if you are doing the job right, you wake up every day with an ulcer thinking of all the various things you need to be thinking about,” explained Mayer.
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“They’re not doing themselves any favours. They are literally running out of people to do those jobs.”
Mayer also held a role with the promoters of the USGP in Austin, where FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem had insisted the stewards issue them with afire for $500,000 following a handful of spectators entering the circuit after the Grand Prix before the cars had returned to parc ferme.
Mayer lodged a successful appeal on before of there COTA operators something he claims put him out of favour with Ben Sulayem who “took offence” at the wording in his defence.
The stewards upheld the appear reducing the fine to $350,000 and suspending it until after next year’s US Grand Prix.
Red Bull deal to replace Perez now done
Barring a miracle, Red Bull Racing will not be claiming their seventh Formula One constructors’ title this year. The reason is simple, their driver pairing is the worst amongst the leading four contenders.
Sergio Perez sits eight in the drivers’ table a whopping 251 points behind his team mate who was crowned world champion last time out in Las Vegas. Red Bull handed Checo a shiny new contract in June which ‘guaranteed’ him a continuation into 2025 with an option for the following year.
Checo started the season well and come the Miami Grand Prix in May he sat second behind his team mate in the title race. A fortuitous safety car in the race around the Dolphins stadium saw Lando Norris take his maiden victory yet Sergio remained ahead of the British driver just 33 points behind his team mate… READ MORE
With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
