The former race director against the FIA: “Even today I don’t know the reason for the dismissal”

Niels Wittich against the FIA ​​The dismissal from the FIA ​​not only came like a bolt from the blue just before the end of the 2024 season, but is still without any explanation. This is at least what former Formula 1 race director Niels Wittich claims who, together with Eduardo Freitas, replaced the disputed Michael Masi at the start of the 2022 World Championship before giving way to the current head of Race Direction, Rui Marques. In an interview with the DPA news agency, the German sports manager also revealed some of the background to his farewell, which was initially passed off by the Federation as a voluntary resignation after the 2024 Brazilian GP. The truths of the former Race Director Wittich in fact says that he received a summons to go to Geneva on a weekend free from F1 grand prix, only discovering on the occasion of that meeting that he no longer had a role in the Federation: “In itself it was nothing unusual, because it had already happened in the past we consulted or coordinated with colleagues at headquarters, without anything happening between me and the FIA, at least as far as I remember, at the end of the meeting I repeatedly asked what the reason for this decision was, but to date I simply don’t know the reason yet.” However, Niels Wittich is only one of the many farewells of the Federation’s historic staff since Mohammed Ben Sulayem arrived, elected at the end of 2021 and reconfirmed for a second mandate – even if the election is sub-judice pending the ruling of the Paris court – a few weeks ago in Uzbekistan. “It leaves a bad taste in the mouth – adds the former Formula 1 race director – the fact that so many people have had to leave, and I’m not just talking about freelancers, but also many who have been fired from permanent positions without explanations”. The controversy with Lewis Hamilton During the interview the German then also returned to one of the themes that marked the era of his management, the ban on drivers wearing earrings, piercings and jewelery in the car which pitted him against Lewis Hamilton: “The FIA’s approach was that there was a series of rules that had to be applied. And I made sure that they were respected. Formula 1 stars are also role models for the younger generations. Clearly, none of us were particularly appreciated by the Federation and obviously other issues had priority with respect to individual performance”. “This is the disappointing truth that I was suddenly faced with. I don’t expect to get an answer even in 100 years. It was a good time, but it has come to an end,” concluded Niels Wittich.