It’s confirmed: FIA spokesperson leaks F1’s intention of retaining Niels Wittich for controversial Race Director post
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During the Grand Finale of the 2021 edition of Formula 1, all hell broke out after the then-Formula 1 Race Director Michael Masi gave the most controversial ruling of his career. Throughout the length of the season, the contest between the two Championship contenders–Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton–had been a very close one. The two clashed on multiple occasions during the year, and it all boiled down to one big splash at the last race of the season in the desert country where the Dutchman and the Briton went head-to-head for their title win.
While Lewis Hamilton was leading at one point in the race, Nicholas Latifi proved to be the trump card as his crash changed the entire course of the Abu Dhabi GP. In the end, Michael Masi allowed all the lapped car to unlap themselves as the race was going to resume after some laps behind the safety car, and Max Verstappen seized this opportunity to go past Hamilton and grab the top position in the grid. Later, Verstappen was crowned World Champion for the first time in his career. And following that, massive arguments rose against Masi’s permission which they claimed to be the reason behind the Red Bull racer winning against Lewis.
The controversy reached a height before the 2022 season kickstarted, and Michael Masi had no option but to step down from his role as the F1 Race Director because of his sacking by the authorities. And then, it was announced that two new people will claim Masi’s position so that none of the races depend upon the decisions of one single person anymore. Hence, Niels Wittich, who has previously served as the Race Director for Germany’s DTM Championship, and Eduardo Freitas, who has led the World Endurance Championship, were appointed for the controversial role.
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Recent leaks from FIA sources reveal that Niels Wittich will be retained for another season at the head of F1
When Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas came in power as the new Race Directors of Formula 1, they were met with some friction. Some of their newly-introduced rules did not sit well with the teams, but there was no massive controversies surrounding them as had been the case when Michael Masi was the Race Director. Hence, an FIA source said Wittich will surely be retained for another season in F1 despite reports suggesting his impending removal from the post.
Another bombshell discovery, that was made regarding the position of the Race Director in Formula 1, happened when FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem attended a recent press conference. He said the governing body have decided to continue investing in the training of more individuals for the role of Race Directors and Stewards in future. He also said it can very well be considered that the role of the Race Director will be fulfilled by two people from now onwards so that noone has the autonomy regarding the processes of F1.
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Riddhi Mondal
(1821 Articles Published)