Axed F1 race director accused of deliberate move to hamper Max Verstappen title bid

Niels Wittich, whose exit arsenic Formula 1 contention manager was announced by the FIA this week, has been accused by Eddie Jordan of deliberately utilizing a reddish emblem to hamper Max Verstappen

Eddie Jordan asserted Max Verstappen was not fixed "a just deal" arsenic helium accused erstwhile Formula 1 contention manager Niels Wittich of trying to hamper the Dutchman successful his rubric combat with Lando Norris.

The FIA announced this week that Wittich has been replaced arsenic F1 contention director. The governing body's connection to the media suggested the German has chosen to permission his post, but he refuted that assertion soon aft and insisted helium did not resign.

In immoderate case, his last contention play successful that relation was filled with incidental arsenic dense rainfall and thunderstorms caused havoc successful Sao Paulo. Qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix was delayed until the greeting of the contention but much bedewed upwind caused plentifulness of incidents.

There were respective reddish flags, including 1 erstwhile Lance Stroll crashed successful Q2. But determination was a hold betwixt that incidental and the telephone from contention power to halt the league of astir 40 seconds, which proved costly for Verstappen.

While respective different cars had the clip to decorativeness the flying laps they were on, the Red Bull racer was 1 of those who did not and it meant helium suffered an aboriginal exit which consigned him to 17th connected the grid. With rubric rival Norris connected pole, both Verstappen and his brag Christian Horner were furious.

It was each forgotten aboriginal successful the time arsenic the Dutchman produced an outstanding thrust to triumph and marque it all-but intolerable for Norris to drawback him successful the title with 3 rounds remaining. But former F1 squad proprietor Jordan was inactive upset astir it arsenic helium spoke with co-host David Coulthard connected their Formula For Success podcast.

The second began: "I deliberation it has benignant of recovered its earthy spot present wherever the luck of wherever the information car comes retired is the luck of the racing gods. We person to presume that the contention manager ne'er looks astatine things similar wherever cars are."

But that was wherever helium was interrupted by Jordan who snapped back: "Of people helium does, of people helium does. Are you telling maine that Max was dealt a just deal? Was helium dealt a just woody erstwhile the reddish emblem came retired six cars, 7 cars later? Come connected David, don't beryllium stupid.

"You cognize the gods are successful Lando's hands. They privation Lando to triumph this championship. But helium is not going to, due to the fact that Max has outfoxed him. That is it."

Coulthard replied to accidental helium was not definite whether helium agreed that was true, prompting different retort from Jordan. The Irish businessman said: "The reddish emblem was wrong, it was a mistake - helium f***** up, didn't he?"