‘No reason given to this day’

Former Components 1 race director Niels Wittich has spoken up about his dismissal from the FIA in his first public feedback on the matter.

It was announced on the eve of last November’s Las Vegas Grand Prix that Wittich will step down from his role at the FIA with immediate effect. The announcement got here as a “shock” to many, with world champion Max Verstappen saying his exit was “bizarre”.

Talking as a visitor commentator throughout Sky Germany’s protection of pre-season testing in Bahrain, Wittich revealed “nobody has been capable of give me a solution” as to why he was faraway from his place.

For him, the information on the time was “simply as stunning” because it was for out of doors observers.

“I noticed no indications that something wasn’t working or that there was any purpose to make a personnel change. So, in that sense, all of it got here as an entire shock. To today,” the German remarked.  

Wittich’s sudden dismissal through the essential last part of the 2024 championship sparked a storm of concern in F1, one largely directed at FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

“If you happen to have a look at it positively, you would flip current occasions right into a actuality present of their very own,” Mercedes group principal Toto Wolff quipped at the moment.  

Six-time grand prix winner Ralf Schumacher argued that the FIA was shedding a “really excellent race director” with Wittich in an interview with Motorsport Network‘s Formel1.de YouTube channel, describing it as somebody who had “at all times made good choices”.

The choice additionally didn’t sit properly with the drivers’ union, the Grand Prix Drivers’ Affiliation.

“Some drivers are actually fed up with the state of affairs as a result of it simply retains going within the incorrect path,” criticised its director George Russell at the moment.  

The FIA by no means offered an official purpose for Wittich’s departure. Allegedly, the choice got here immediately from Ben Sulayem, who confirmed little interest in involving the drivers on the matter.

“It’s none of their enterprise. Sorry,” he mentioned on the time in an interview with Autosport.

It’s believed that Ben Sulayem didn’t simply withhold an evidence from the general public, however he additionally by no means mentioned the choice with Wittich himself.

When requested whether or not he had tried to get clarification from his former employer concerning the causes for his dismissal, Wittich replied: “I did, in truth. However nobody might give me a solution.

“To today, no purpose has been given to me. And the final time I spoke with the FIA president was final 12 months in China. So I can’t say that we had any sort of falling out or a detrimental relationship. I had comparatively little contact with him.”  

Niels Wittich, Race Director, FIA

Picture by: Lionel Ng / Motorsport Pictures

Wittich was appointed as F1 race director forward of the 2022 season, initially alongside Eduardo Freitas, following heavy criticism of his predecessor, Michael Masi, and Masi’s controversial function within the notorious 2021 Abu Dhabi season finale.

From late 2022 onwards, Wittich served as the only real race director for F1. Wanting again, he finds the abrupt ending to his tenure in 2024 “a disgrace.”

“It was an unimaginable pleasure to work with such a incredible group and to supervise such a tremendous collection,” he mentioned. “Properly, Components 1 will be fairly fast-moving in terms of personnel, whether or not on the group facet or amongst officers. I simply have to simply accept it for what it’s.”