Inside F1 row after axed race director accused of deliberately using a red flag to hamper title-chasing Max Verstappen

NIELS WITTICH has been accused of deliberately using a red flag to hamper Max Verstappen’s F1 title bid in the latest twist of events. 

Drama has erupted after the FIA announced the shock news this week that Wittich had been replaced as F1 race director with just three Grands Prix to go.

The sport’s governing body suggested in a statement that the German had chosen to leave his post to “pursue new opportunities.”

But there is more than meets the eye, with Wittich hitting back, claiming he did “not resign” just hours after the FIA had announced his departure from the role. 

German publication Motorsport-Magazin reported that Wittich told them: “I have not resigned.”

The report added that Wittich was informed of his dismissal just hours before the public confirmation came from the FIA on Tuesday.

Wittich’s final race weekend was filled with chaos due to treacherous weather conditions in Sao Paulo. 

There were several red flags in qualifying at the Brazilian Grand Prix, including one when Lance Stroll crashed in Q2. 

There was a delay between that incident and the call from race control to stop the session of around 40 seconds, which proved costly for Verstappen.

He was unable to finish his flying lap and was knocked out in 12th place in Q2 while title rival Lando Norris finished on pole to rub salt in the wounds. 

Former F1 team owner Eddie Jordan was raging about it as he spoke with co-host David Coulthard on their Formula For Success podcast.

The latter began: “I think it has kind of found its natural place now where the luck of where the safety car comes out is the luck of the racing gods.

“We have to assume that the race director never looks at things like where cars are.”

But that was where he was interrupted by Jordan who snapped back: “Of course he does, of course he does.

“Are you telling me that Max was dealt a fair deal? Was he dealt a fair deal when the red flag came out six cars, seven cars later? Come on David, don’t be stupid.

“You know the gods are in Lando’s hands. They want Lando to win this championship. But he is not going to, because Max has outfoxed him. That is it.”

Coulthard replied to say he was not sure whether he agreed that was true, prompting Irish businessman Jordan to say: “The red flag was wrong, it was a mistake – he f***** up, didn’t he?”

What is going on at the FIA?

It is very rare for an F1 race director to be changed in the middle of a season, especially given there are just three races remaining.

Sources have said that Wittich left earlier than expected as a result of a fall out with Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

Ben Sulayem’s reign has been stained by a string of controversies, the latest of which was a letter published last week by the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association.

They asked to be treated like adults in the wake of Verstappen and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc being punished for swearing.

Wittich is also the latest in a series of senior people to leave the FIA in the past year, with Luke Skipper, former director of communications, leaving in October 2024.

This coincided with the departure of Jacob Bangsgaard, the former secretary general of mobility. 

Nielsen also left his role as sporting director at the FIA in December 2023, just before single-seater technical director Tim Goss followed suit. 

Rui Marques, the F2 and F3 race director, has been named as the German’s replacement from next week’s Las Vegas Grand Prix.

A third race director since F1 2021 shows role could be a poisoned chalice

Whatever the reason for Wittich’s exit, it is part of a worrying trend as the FIA looks to be incapable of retaining senior staff.

Wittich has held the role since the 2022 season after Michael Masi was removed from the position following a governing body review into the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The FIA confirmed “human error” was a factor in the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP title controversy.

In the report, the FIA acknowledged Masi contravened F1 regulations with his handling of the late Safety Car and his allowing of one final racing lap between Verstappen and Hamilton.

It seems the FIA’s race director role could be a poisoned chalice and the vicious exit cycle may repeat itself.