November 12, (THEWILL) – The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the governing body of Formula One, has announced that Niels Wittich has stepped down from his position as Formula One race director, effective immediately. Rui Marques will take over the role starting from next week’s Las Vegas Grand Prix.
In a statement, the FIA said that Wittich, who has carried out the race director responsibilities since 2022 after the removal of Australian Michael Masi, has decided to “pursue new opportunities”. The governing body praised Wittich’s “professionalism and dedication” in fulfilling his duties as race director.
Marques, a Portuguese national, has previous experience serving as an international steward and race director for the Formula Two and Formula Three championships. The FIA expressed confidence in Marques’ ability to step into the high-profile Formula One role with three races remaining in the 2024 season.
The 2024 Formula One title battles in both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ championships remain undecided heading into the final events. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen could clinch his fourth consecutive Drivers’ title as soon as the upcoming race in Las Vegas.
The FIA’s announcement of Wittich’s immediate departure and Marques’ appointment comes at a critical juncture of the Formula One season, with significant implications for the outcome of this year’s championships.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
