LAS VEGAS — In the two weeks since Formula One’s last race in Brazil, the dynamic between the drivers on the grid and the sport’s regulator, the FIA, has shifted.
First came a rare public statement by the drivers’ union, the Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA), that hit back at the FIA over recent controversies surrounding swearing, sparked by Max Verstappen’s news conference f-bomb that was deemed to be misconduct. The GPDA issued a reminder that “our members are adults” while taking aim at FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem over some of his own comments.
A bigger shock followed. With only three races remaining in the season, the FIA announced that F1’s race director, Niels Wittich, had stepped down from his role to “pursue new opportunities.” But Wittich confirmed to both Motorsport Magazin and BBC Sport that he had not resigned, pointing to him being pushed out. The FIA refused to comment beyond its statement announcing his departure.
The race director effectively serves as the referee running the F1 grand prix. Their duty is to flag potential incidents, be it collisions or track limit breaches, for the stewards to rule on and be the enforcer of the sporting regulations. Their role is pivotal in the smooth and, most importantly, fair running of a grand prix.
While the drivers did not always see eye-to-eye with Wittich, who, since taking over in 2022 following the dismissal of Michael Masi after the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi GP, had picked them up on topics such as not wearing jewelry in the car or ensuring they used FIA-approved underwear, there was at least some stability.
Now, there has been a snap change, and the drivers will have to get used to a new way of racing with Rui Marques, the Formula Two and Formula Three race director, taking over. A race like Las Vegas, taking place on a high-speed street track with a greater chance of on-track incidents, is a difficult one at which to start his new role.
There was concern from the drivers not only about the change itself but also about their lack of involvement in the move. The news was not communicated to the drivers prior to it being announced by the FIA, leaving many of them to find out either through the media or their social channels.
“It was a bit of a surprise, I think, for everybody,” said Mercedes driver George Russell, a GPDA director. “It’s a hell of a lot of pressure now onto the new race director (with) just three races left. Often, as drivers, we probably feel like we’re the last to find out this sort of information.”
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc said the news “came a bit out of nowhere” and questioned the timing. “To do it so late in the season, at such a crucial moment of the season, it could have probably been managed in a better way,” he said.
Max Verstappen agreed. “It’s a bit weird with three races to go to do that,” he said, wondering why the move was not made at the end of the season. “It doesn’t matter if you’re positive or negative about certain things. I thought in Brazil there was definitely room for improvement, for example. It’s still a bit weird having to now then deal with a different race director.”
The drivers have been in regular discussions with Wittich this year about a desire for greater consistency in the officiating of races, particularly over topics such as track limits and racing rules. Marques may have a different way of running a race, similar to the shift seen in how Wittich operated compared to Masi, taking a more hardline, black-and-white approach.
The disconnect over Wittich’s departure proved where the fractures lie between the F1 grid and the FIA. “We just want to be transparent with the FIA and have this dialogue that is happening,” Russell said. “And I think the departure of Niels is also a prime example of not being a part of these conversations.”
Russell is the only active F1 driver to serve as a GPDA director, often being the voice of reason speaking up for the rest of the grid. While some of his peers brushed off the change, saying they’d adjust to the new way of racing under Marques, Russell was clear about his concerns. As reflected in the GPDA’s statement, the bottom line is that the drivers do not feel heard.
“If we feel we’re being listened to, and some of the changes that we are requesting are implemented, because ultimately we’re only doing it for the benefit of the sport, then maybe our confidence will increase,” Russell said. “But I think there’s a number of drivers who feel a bit fed up with the whole situation. It only seems to be going in the wrong direction.”
That lack of understanding is something Kevin Magnussen felt changed following the shock passing of Charlie Whiting, F1’s long-serving, legendary race director, on the eve of the 2019 season. “He was someone we felt really connected to and felt we were being listened to,” Magnussen said. “Now it’s a lot of ‘us against them,’ almost, and it should definitely be more of a cooperation and a closer connection between us and them because we can help each other a lot. Hopefully, the new guy will help go in that direction.”
There was widespread recognition that the FIA and its appointed F1 race director face a difficult task in running F1 races, particularly in the intensity of a championship fight as in 2024. However, Russell also admitted he was unsure if drivers had confidence in the FIA, saying it was “clearly not the most stable of places” given the long list of high-profile departures in the last 12 months. “Sometimes just hiring and firing is not the solution,” he said. “You need to work together to improve the problem.”
Lando Norris, whose battles against Max Verstappen led to questions from drivers over Wittich’s implementation of the racing rules, agreed that “obviously things are not running as smoothly as what we would want” at the FIA.
Whether change – or even reception to change – is realistic remains unclear. Russell confirmed that the GPDA has yet to hear back from either the FIA or Ben Sulayem, almost two weeks after issuing the public statement. He admitted to being “a little bit surprised” not to have received a reply. “Maybe there’ll be something to come.”
It is unlikely to be this weekend. Ben Sulayem won’t be in Las Vegas – it was long planned as a race he would miss – but will be on the ground in Qatar, giving him the chance to pick up the discussion there before the end of the season.
For Marques, Thursday’s drivers’ briefing will be a first chance to properly engage with the grid and discuss any concerns they may have. The intensity of the Las Vegas weekend will only add to the challenge and comes off the back of him overseeing the running of the famed Macau Grand Prix last week. While the championship fight has been defused somewhat, with Verstappen now able to wrap things up on Saturday night by finishing ahead of Norris, his decisions will face inevitable scrutiny.
Regardless of how Marques fares, the mood of the drivers is that there needs to be a change in the relationship with the FIA. Importantly, they are on the same page.
“It’s just shown that more than ever, the drivers are united, which perhaps is not something you’ve always seen in the past,” said Lewis Hamilton.
“I think there are some things that need addressing, and the FIA needs to be better at working and collaborating with us.”
Additional reporting by Madeline Coleman.
Top photo of George Russell: Clive Rose/Getty Images
