Listening to all the drivers today in Las Vegas, they are more surprised by the timing of the sudden departure of Niels Wittich, the F1 race director until the last Grand Prix in Brazil, than by the fact that this last one was sacked.
The FIA discussed leaving to pursue another opportunity but Wittich quickly responded by saying he had been sacked. Rui Marques replaces him with immediate effect, three races before the end of the season.
In Las Vegas, Max Verstappen said the timing of the FIA's decision to remove Wittich as F1 racing director was “bizarre”.
“I read the news and went on with my day because I don't know anything about what happened. It's a little weird to have to do this three races before the end.”
“It doesn't matter whether you are positive or negative about certain things. I thought that in Brazil there was clearly room for improvement, for example.”
“It's always a bit weird to now have to deal with a different race director. If you normally want to change race directors, maybe you do it after the season, and then you have a little bit of time for the new race director is getting up to speed.”
“You also have the pre-season trials to get more familiar with your role, but let's see how it goes, they have decided it, and we have to live with it.”
Guanyu Zhou also admits: “Honestly, it was a surprise for the drivers, we all talk in the GPDA group, and we are surprised because we would have preferred to stay in the situation for the last three races.
“We don't know the reason and we haven't been given details, but starting here in Vegas isn't easy for Rui. But I hope he has some knowledge he can use for the rules and regulations. penalties I hope nothing will be difficult this weekend, we'll see how it goes.”
Lando Norris believes Wittich hasn't had it easy lately and may be paying for some decisions.
“His job was difficult. I don't think people realize how difficult it is. You know, as pilots, we always do… I mean, we insult everyone, you know , half the time! So it's probably one of the hardest sports to control in the world, I think.”
“I don't know about all the other sports, but I think it's a sport where so much can happen. You want rules, but you also don't want rules. And that's what makes very difficult things. And you'll always have people who disagree and people who agree, so I think it's a very difficult position.”
“I don't know what's going on at the FIA. Obviously things aren't going as well as we would like. But as a sport of such magnitude, like the majority and almost every other sport , you have permanent commissioners, you have permanent people, you have a permanent team that manages everything for consistency and many other reasons. That's all I know.
“And yes, that's what we want as drivers. That's what we're asking for. But we also recognize that it's a very difficult position and that putting yourself forward for that role in the first place, I think, takes a little courage because you know you're going to receive criticism from all sides at some point, and you have to accept it You have to be willing to accept it I don't think it's easy to do. anyone. We'll see, but I don't know any more. honestly.”
At his side, Valtteri Bottas echoes: “It's a difficult job and for the new one it will be a challenge. Especially with the two titles still in play and all that. So I hope everything goes well. But yes, as drivers we don't “We don't really have a lot of information on why this happened, what decision was made, so I guess we'll have more details at the drivers' meeting.”
Is Kevin Magnussen worried about the end of the season?
“I don't know if it's a big concern as such. I think it's a difficult job and you know it's something… It's a job that takes experience and to be honest I don't know how much experience the new guy has I know he comes from F2 and F3 so he must have experience I hope he does well.
“We all tend to compare Charlie Whiting to when we were pilots, he was someone we really felt connected to and always felt like we were being listened to, whereas now it seems like “There are many of us who are against the FIA and there should definitely be more cooperation and a closer connection between us and them because we can help each other a lot, so I hope the new guy will help move in that direction.”
Esteban Ocon points out that “Las Vegas is certainly not an easy race to start with, on a street circuit prone to incidents. But Rui knows Macau well and it's probably a more difficult circuit than here, certainly.”
“I'm looking forward to meeting him and having good discussions with him at the drivers' meetings and seeing how he works. I'm sure we'll talk a lot about the way he does things, the ideas that it has, very important topics for us like track limits, curbs, etc. Everyone has their own way of doing things. And yes, we obviously have to communicate well about what we think is very important for the future. “
Charles Leclerc does not really understand why such a change was made when so many issues are still present.
“It kind of came out of nowhere. I think we were all surprised. I think beyond the decision, which we can all have our own opinion on, I think the timing was a little surprising and to do it so late in the season at such a crucial time in the season It probably could have been handled better.”
The Monegasque added, however, that the change of race director should not have an impact on the Grand Prix calendar.
“But other than that, it doesn't fundamentally change our relationship with the FIA. It's obviously an ongoing process to improve that relationship and that discussion in order to make our sport better. And there are certainly things to improve and we are trying to work with the FIA to achieve this. But I am quite surprised at the timing of this decision.
Carlos Sainz also had his say on this major change made by the FIA.
“I think it's extremely important, that cooperation, that collaboration between the race drivers and the race director. I mean, a lot of decisions that the race director makes are influenced by the feedback that we give on the track , the conditions, everything Obviously, I just ask from here that the new director is open-minded, that he listens to us and that he appreciates our comments, because if we say things with the intention of. change something on the track, or so we say, communicate something on the radio, it's because we really believe in it.”
Fernando Alonso adds that he too “was surprised. I read the news, like all of you. I have no other information about it apart from the press release. We will see the new race director tomorrow at the drivers' briefing. We will try to support him.”
“We will try to help him as much as we can in whatever he might need. I hope we have a long relationship with this new race director and things get better and better for him. future.”
Alex Albon stressed that the situation could have been handled more carefully.
“It was a surprise. Niels had one of the toughest positions in the paddock, and I think he did well. I think he managed to balance it out as best he could. could. To comment on the change, that's not really my position, I felt like he was more than capable of doing the last three races.”
