Niels Wittich has stepped down from his position as Formula 1’s race director with immediate effect, the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) confirmed in a statement.
Wittich, who had held the role since 2022, decided to leave to “pursue new opportunities.”
The sudden departure of the German official comes as a surprise, with the FIA staff being informed of the change earlier this week. Wittich’s departure will pave the way for Rui Marques to take over the role from the next race in Las Vegas. Marques, who has previously served as the race director for both Formula 2 and Formula 3, will now assume the responsibility of overseeing race operations in the premier motorsport series.
The FIA did not elaborate on the reasons for Wittich’s departure, but his exit marks a significant shift in the sport’s governance just ahead of the high-profile Las Vegas Grand Prix, a race that has generated immense attention in recent months.
Melissa Enoch
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