Ferrari boss Vasseur calls late-season Formula 1 race director change 'strange'

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur remarked that the abrupt exit of Formula 1 race director Nils Wittich was peculiar, especially with the championship nearing its conclusion.

Both titles remain contested, with Red Bull's Max Verstappen on the verge of securing his fourth consecutive championship, while the constructors' title is more competitive between the leading teams, McLaren and Ferrari.

Wittich's immediate departure was announced last week, generating considerable speculation but offering little clarity regarding the reasons behind his exit.

Drivers expressed their astonishment at this development on Wednesday.

"The timing of this decision strikes me as somewhat unusual, particularly as we approach the end of the championship, which includes three of the most challenging races to oversee," Vasseur stated to reporters at the Las Vegas Grand Prix on Thursday.

"Las Vegas, as we recall from last year, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi, the final race of the season. The timing feels odd to me in this context.

"However, I am not privy to the discussions within the FIA, so I prefer not to take a stance on this matter, but the timing does seem unusual."

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who witnessed Lewis Hamilton's championship loss in Abu Dhabi in 2021 due to a change in safety car protocols by then-race director Michael Masi, emphasized the need for stability. Meanwhile, Alpine's Oliver Oakes expressed confidence in the newly appointed race director Rui Marques, who has been elevated from F2, stating that he is well-suited for the position.

"I believe he will perform well. Ultimately, if they have entrusted him with this role, it is because everyone believes he is prepared to take on this responsibility," said Oakes, who is familiar with Marques from their time in the junior series.

Sky Sports commentator and former driver Martin Brundle conveyed to viewers that the situation was "very difficult to rationalize."

"Niels Wittich reportedly stated: 'I was fired, I didn't step away from it.' He appeared to be enjoying his role and seemed to expect to continue," he added.

Wittich was reported by the Germanwebsite motorsport-magazin to have stated that he had not resigned, although he did not provide additional information. The FIA indicated that he had departed "to pursue new opportunities."

Brundle remarked, "Until we gain a clearer understanding of the situation and the reasons behind any dissatisfaction, it is challenging to assess whether this was a favorable or unfavorable decision."

He further noted, "Given the challenges of this race, this timing is far from ideal. One would think it would have been prudent to wait until the winter."

SportsLigue