Former Formula 1 Race Director Niels Wittich has publicly spoken out about his sudden departure from the FIA. The German stepped down from his duties in November; the FIA stated it was a voluntary departure, but Wittich claimed he was dismissed. To this day, it remains unclear why he had to leave abruptly. It is possible that he was sacked at the urging of Chairman Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
In November 2024, just before the Las Vegas Grand Prix, the FIA announced that Race Director Niels Wittich would no longer be able to fulfill his duties. The news came as a complete surprise to the Formula 1 paddock and led to much outrage. Niels Wittich was called upon in 2022 to replace Michael Masi, who was held responsible for the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi GP.
During the three-day winter test in Bahrain, Niels Wittich served as a guest commentator for the German branch of Sky Sports. In a broadcast, he revealed that he was never given a reason for his sudden dismissal. “I saw no indications that something wasn’t working or that there was a reason to make a staff change,” said the 52-year-old German. “So in that sense, it all came as a complete surprise – it was just as surprising to me as it was to everyone outside the organization.”
Mohammed Ben Sulayem
Wittich’s dismissal occurred during a critical phase of the 2024 season. At the time, Lando Norris was still in contention for the driver’s title, and at least three teams were vying for the top spot in the constructors’ championship. The decision drew a lot of criticism towards the FIA, particularly towards FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem. The FIA itself never provided an official reason for Niels Wittich’s departure, although it is speculated that the decision was made directly by the Emirati. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff joked that the developments within the organization were starting to resemble ‘a reality show’.
Wittich further revealed that he tried to get clarification about his dismissal. “I tried, but no one could give me an answer,” he continued. “The last time I spoke with the FIA president was last year during the race weekend in China. So I can’t say that we had a dispute or that there was a negative relationship. I had relatively little contact with him.” Looking back on his tenure, Wittich regrets that his time as race director ended so abruptly. “It was an incredible pleasure to work with such a fantastic team and oversee such a great sport,” he concluded. “I just have to accept that this is the way it is.” Niels Wittich was replaced by Formula 2 race director Rui Marques.
