96 replies to this topic

[FirstnameLastname]

https://www.bbc.co.u...es/c4gvpn1exnvo

F2/F3 director leading the next race….

[PayasYouRace]

I’ll do it.

[ARTGP]

Is this because of Brazil?   

[FirstnameLastname]

Is this because of Brazil?

Red flag handing WDC to max?

[ARTGP]

Red flag handing WDC to max?

 

I'd say that was the only good call he made all weekend. Car on the track, tractor on the track, instant red flag, every time.  Everything else though...

Edited by ARTGP, 12 November 2024 - 14:47.

[Alex79]

Red flag handing WDC to max?

no Niels no Niels no no no. this is not alright!!!

[Danicafreak]

not a fan that racing is so political.

[FLB]

Is this because of Brazil? 

A cumulation of things, IMHO.

[Baddoer]

It will be the same or worse

[krea]

He failed at making the championship to last until the end of the season.

[RedRabbit]

Red flag handing WDC to max?

Fired because he couldn't (or wouldn't) find a way to drag the title "fight" out until the last race? 😂

Sounds like a mad conspiracy, until you remember Singapore 2008 and Abu Dhabi 21

[PrinceBira]

The statement from the FIA is quite the thing. A lot of corporate mumbo jumbo saying exactly nothing.

 

Clearly either the FIA or Wittich was totally not happy with something. He either was fired (or well, politely asked to resign with immediate effect) or he decided to resign himself with immediate effect. 

 

The statement leaves an awful lot of room for extensive speculation. 

[BleuMurmure]

Fired because he couldn't (or wouldn't) find a way to drag the title "fight" out until the last race?

Sounds like a mad conspiracy, until you remember Singapore 2008 and Abu Dhabi 21

Even the HR lady in Geneva saw Stroll trying to restart half his car without a red flag and put in the meeting on the spot ;)

[Ruusperi]

What a shame.   I think he did well. 

And when it came to wet racing (like Monaco & Zandvoort 2023 and the last race at Brazil), he was better than Masi, Freitas and and Whiting combined with his "let them race" attitude.

Edited by Ruusperi, 12 November 2024 - 15:16.

[jonpollak]

I’ll do it.

Uhhhh, No Thanks.
Jp

[Alex79]

The statement from the FIA is quite the thing. A lot of corporate mumbo jumbo saying exactly nothing.

Clearly either the FIA or Wittich was totally not happy with something. He either was fired (or well, politely asked to resign with immediate effect) or he decided to resign himself with immediate effect.

The statement leaves an awful lot of room for extensive speculation.

rphm speak: speculationing intensifies

Edited by Alex79, 12 November 2024 - 15:11.

[FirstnameLastname]

it was he filming the video with the footie 4th official the other night…. The f1 content is Pt2

[Deeq]

First there were duo then there were 1.. The 1 was better than the duo, this could improve the racing!
What the "forbiden by FiA" does race direction add to the racing? Often they a drag to good racing..

Edited by Deeq, 12 November 2024 - 15:17.

[RedRabbit]

Even the HR lady in Geneva saw Stroll trying to restart half his car without a red flag and put in the meeting on the spot ;)

With Sky Sports in attendance with the Sky Pad, to offer support for a RD more amenable to whatever drama they're trying to cook up for the season.

[F1 Mike]

Just another name to the list really, isn't it?

[SenorSjon]

So last week was the wettest we'll race in quite some time? Funny how Perez can survive this many race directors.

Edited by SenorSjon, 12 November 2024 - 15:34.

[SophieB]

Christian Menath

@MSM_Christian
​Niels Wittich told me he didn't step down from his role as #F1 race director. He was just fired and was told so today. Very strange things happening 3 races before the end of the season...

https://x.com/msm_ch...3498175589?s=61

[jonklug]

He should have been relieved of his duties for that Sprint alone. Hulkenberg was out of his car and they were still running at race speed under just yellow flags. 

Edited by jonklug, 12 November 2024 - 15:57.

[PrinceBira]

Christian Menath

@MSM_Christian
​Niels Wittich told me he didn't step down from his role as #F1 race director. He was just fired and was told so today. Very strange things happening 3 races before the end of the season...

https://x.com/msm_ch...3498175589?s=61

 

Well that came out fast. 

 

So now the next step of speculation: why did they fire him? As he's talking to journalists I expect that we'll get to hear more about this! 

[FirstnameLastname]

Herbert installed as RD with 3 races to go…

[mclarensmps]

I really want to know what happened here. I wasn't aware of any big controversies with race direction recently?

[Little Leaf]

Herbert installed as RD with 3 races to go…

 

Just imagine that!!!

[piszkosfred]

Well that came out fast. 

 

So now the next step of speculation: why did they fire him? As he's talking to journalists I expect that we'll get to hear more about this! 

He probably used too much cuss words in the presence of the FIA president.

[Deeq]

Herbert installed as RD with 3 races to go…

Funny as hell 🤣🤣🤣

[MikeTekRacing]

we had a driver on the side of the track with the race still going on. Unacceptable. 

Most probably that's what got him fired. It took too damn long to do something in the sprint race and there is no excuse for that.

[prty]

Herbert installed as RD with 3 races to go…

Maximum penalties.

[jonklug]

Herbert installed as RD with 3 races to go…

 

Neah, the return of Masi is what this forum truly needs. 

[JHSingo]

I’ll do it.

 

Only way Lando can still be champion this year, tbh.   

Just kidding Payas - pls don't ban me. 

[milestone 11]

Here comes Masi!

[DeKnyff]

not a fan that racing is so political.

 

You'll have to follow another sport, then. Politics are at the heart of motor racing, let alone F1.

[Risil]

He should have been relieved of his duties for that Sprint alone. Hulkenberg was out of his car and they were still running at race speed under just yellow flags. 

 

I know you say "should" but there's no evidence yet that this had anything to do with his firing, right? Just trying to keep the story straight.

[BleuMurmure]

Christian Menath

@MSM_Christian
​Niels Wittich told me he didn't step down from his role as #F1 race director. He was just fired and was told so today. Very strange things happening 3 races before the end of the season...

https://x.com/msm_ch...3498175589?s=61

oof...
how did this go? FIA put out a statement without him approving the message? or he did and this is his one final f-you to MBS?

 

Masi and the FIA split amicably compared to this. But what Michael did was less of a safety issue than Wittich's Brazilian performance.

[Risil]

Some useful reporting from Andrew Benson to go along with the German report that Wittich was fired:
 

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

The decision was not widely expected within F1, although some insiders had heard Wittich would be replaced at the end of the season.

A senior source said that Wittich, as a result of his relationship with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, had left earlier than expected.

 

https://www.bbc.co.u...es/c4gvpn1exnvo

[Risil]

oof...
how did this go? FIA put out a statement without him approving the message? or he did and this is his one final f-you to MBS?

 

Masi and the FIA split amicably compared to this. But what Michael did was less of a safety issue than Wittich's Brazilian performance.

 

The teams don't appear to have been pressuring the FIA to remove Wittich and the FIA themselves haven't mentioned anything about perceived lack of safety during the Brazilian GP weekend.

[krea]

The teams don't appear to have been pressuring the FIA to remove Wittich and the FIA themselves haven't mentioned anything about perceived lack of safety during the Brazilian GP weekend.

 

The FIA straight up handwaved Norris' antics while a car was in the process of being recovered   

Edited by krea, 12 November 2024 - 17:05.

[Risil]

The FIA straight up handwaved Norris' antics while a car was in the process of being recovering.   

 

OK but how does this connect to Wittich's firing?

[Deeq]

https://www.bbc.co.u...es/c4gvpn1exnvo

F2/F3 director leading the next race….

Well he didnt step down, He was fired, perhaps an edit of the thread title is in order?

OK but how does this connect to Wittich's firing?

Hmn about the thread title..

Edited by Deeq, 12 November 2024 - 17:08.

[krea]

OK but how does this connect to Wittich's firing?

 

Safety wasn't the problem but something else. Which may or may not be the reason why Norris got away with running another formation lap 

Edited by krea, 12 November 2024 - 17:08.

[Risil]

Hmn about the thread title..

 

I'm speaking loosely, and I probably shouldn't.

 

Let's leave the thread title as it is until we have some more solid reporting.

[jonklug]

I know you say "should" but there's no evidence yet that this had anything to do with his firing, right? Just trying to keep the story straight.

 

Not that I've seen. I doubt there is just one reason, it might be the case that the way Brazil was handled overall was the last drop, but I doubt we'll ever know for sure.

Edited by jonklug, 12 November 2024 - 17:10.

[KWSN - DSM]

So what happened here? He was fired for what exactly? The way the release is worded does not read as a fireing.

 

Pursue other opportunities = I quit for a better job.

Per mutual agreement = You are fired.

[Risil]

So what happened here? He was fired for what exactly? The way the release is worded does not read as a fireing.

Pursue other opportunities = I quit for a better job.
Per mutual agreement = You are fired.

I suspect the FIA is not being candid about the reasons for the timing of Wittch's departure.

[PrinceBira]

So what happened here? He was fired for what exactly? The way the release is worded does not read as a fireing.

Pursue other opportunities = I quit for a better job.
Per mutual agreement = You are fired.

Read my first post in this topic: based on how the statement was worded it was clear from the start that something else happened.

See below:

The statement from the FIA is quite the thing. A lot of corporate mumbo jumbo saying exactly nothing.

Clearly either the FIA or Wittich was totally not happy with something. He either was fired (or well, politely asked to resign with immediate effect) or he decided to resign himself with immediate effect.

Edited by PrinceBira, 12 November 2024 - 17:24.

[New Britain]

I suspect the FIA is not being candid about the reasons for the timing of Wittch's departure.

He would not have been sacked (at least not mid-season) if MBS had wanted him to stay.

[ARTGP]

Some useful reporting from Andrew Benson to go along with the German report that Wittich was fired:

 

 

 

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

The decision was not widely expected within F1, although some insiders had heard Wittich would be replaced at the end of the season.

A senior source said that Wittich, as a result of his relationship with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, had left earlier than expected.

 

 

https://www.bbc.co.u...es/c4gvpn1exnvo

 

The FIA is a french organization. I don't think he can be fired for "not having a good personal relationship with the FIA president" under french labor laws.  It's too frivolous. The FIA could be sued. Wittich would have to have been terminated for something legitimate like performance. The other reasons don't make sense here.  To get fired after a weekend with controversial race direction, and then believe it had nothing to do with it is quite naive.  I'm willing to bet that if Wittich had a good relationship with Sulayem, then he wouldn't have been fired, but that would be a case of Sulayem overlooking his mistakes and giving Wittich a second chance. The fact that they supposedly were not on good terms just makes it more likely that Sulayem would have been waiting for just cause to fire him. Sacking with 3 races to go is random, but when followed by Brazil, doesn't look so random. 

Edited by ARTGP, 12 November 2024 - 17:46.