9 replies to this topic

[SophieB]

Mercedes' George Russell says the Formula 1 drivers are "a bit fed up" with the leadership of the sport’s governing body, the FIA.[/size]
Russell, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA), said the drivers "weren’t aware" of the decision to remove the race director Niels Wittich three races before the end of the season.
The Briton said: "There are a number of drivers who feel a bit fed up with the whole situation and it only seems to be going to a degree in the wrong direction."

The drivers aren’t happy about how The departure of Wittich has been handled.

Russell admitted that the drivers were not fully content with some aspects of Wittich's work since he became race director at the start of the 2022 season. The German has been replaced by ex-Formula 2 and Formula 3 race director Rui Marques for the final three races of the season, starting in Las Vegas this weekend.
He said: "There is no secret that some were not happy with what was going on in terms of the decisions that were being made, but he worked together with us and we could have helped improve the matter.
"Sometimes just hiring and firing is not the solution. Let's see what this new era brings, but every time you make a change you have to make one step back before you take two steps forward."

https://www.bbc.co.u...es/cj6kp686g6do

[SophieB]

@jeff_gluck

A lot of the #F1 drivers have said they were caught off guard by the departure of race director Niels Wittich and had no advance notice. So I asked Charles Leclerc when *exactly* he found out about it. Any heads up?

 

“Nope. I found out on social media,” he said.

[RedRabbit]

Weird, because I have seen reports that it was Wittich as the driving force behind the jewelry and compliant underwear clamp down that the drivers hated so much.

Now they're upset he's gone?

Wittich really hasn't done a good job, and when you list the many questionable decisions the Race Direction has taken over the last couple of years, it's just not a surprise he has been fired.

Brazil was obviously the final straw, as that was blatantly interfering with the championship to keep it "interesting"

[Okyo]

Weird, because I have seen reports that it was Wittich as the driving force behind the jewelry and compliant underwear clamp down that the drivers hated so much.

Now they're upset he's gone?

Wittich really hasn't done a good job, and when you list the many questionable decisions the Race Direction has taken over the last couple of years, it's just not a surprise he has been fired.

Brazil was obviously the final straw, as that was blatantly interfering with the championship to keep it "interesting"

How i read it is that they aren't upset, but just questioning if it's right to sack and replace without trying an actual dialog with the drivers over some of the mentioned issues. That's the main issue in their eyes and it doesn't mean it gets solved with a new hire. 

Edited by Okyo, Today, 06:50.

[JRodrigues]

Why would they tell the drivers they were replacing him?? Com on man, grow up. Too much whining.

[Beri]

Why would they tell the drivers they were replacing him?? Com on man, grow up. Too much whining.

 

Well, depsite this may have substance that the drivers should not always be involved, the way it was handled is a bit strange. It is the one person they can find themselves talking about their own safety on track. Said person is a confidant to the drivers. Just see how drivers were emotional when Whiting died. Wittich was a person within the FIA that drivers had most contact with. And to remove him from his position, without notifying drivers, is strange. I agree that drivers shouldnt always be informed. But the removal of Wittich from his position is that one thing that I would grant the drivers information on before the media got a hold of it.

[Muppetmad]

It remains unclear to me why Wittich needed to be removed so abruptly. Masi's actions at the 2020 Tuscan Grand Prix were infinitely more egregious than anything Wittich did this year, and yet he was allowed to continue (to the detriment of the sport). At the very least, it would have made sense to allow Wittich to see out the year.

[Bendo]

Weird, because I have seen reports that it was Wittich as the driving force behind the jewelry and compliant underwear clamp down that the drivers hated so much.

Now they're upset he's gone?

Wittich really hasn't done a good job, and when you list the many questionable decisions the Race Direction has taken over the last couple of years, it's just not a surprise he has been fired.

Brazil was obviously the final straw, as that was blatantly interfering with the championship to keep it "interesting"

He was miles better than Massi. Don't think he did anything that was really bad, although the Brazil safety car before anyone went off was a bizarre decision as it was only ever going to serve to bunch the field up make the spray worse and cool the tyres.

[New Britain]

It's not clear what Russell and Leclerc think should have been done differently. If it is that the GPDA should have been consulted for their opinion of how Wittich was doing, or have been given more time to work with Wittich to help him to improve, fair enough.

If however they think they should have been told that Wittich was getting sacked before Wittich himself was told, that would have been a complete non-starter. If they think that they should have been told after Wittich had been told but before there was a press release, in theory that might have been feasible but in practice it would have been highly likely that one of the drivers would have made it public before the FIA could do so - another non-starter.

[PayasYouRace]

Why would they tell the drivers they were replacing him?? Com on man, grow up. Too much whining.

Maybe out of simple courtesy? Given that the race director is on of the primary contacts between the drivers and the officials, it seems like it’s important. They’re the one briefing the drivers and taking questions from them about how the event will be run.