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 utilizing a reddish emblem to hamper Max Verstappen’s F1 rubric bid successful the latest twist of events. 

Drama has erupted aft the FIA announced the daze quality this week that Wittich had been replaced arsenic F1 contention manager with conscionable 3 Grands Prix to go.

The sport’s governing assemblage suggested successful a connection that the German had chosen to permission his station to “pursue caller opportunities.”

But determination is much than meets the eye, with Wittich hitting back, claiming helium did “not resign” conscionable hours aft the FIA had announced his departure from the role. 

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

The study added that Wittich was informed of his dismissal conscionable hours earlier the nationalist confirmation came from the FIA connected Tuesday.

Wittich’s last contention play was filled with chaos owed to treacherous upwind conditions successful Sao Paulo. 

There were respective reddish flags successful qualifying astatine the Brazilian Grand Prix, including 1 erstwhile Lance Stroll crashed successful Q2. 

There 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.

He was incapable to decorativeness his flying thigh and was knocked retired successful 12th spot successful Q2 portion rubric rival Lando Norris finished connected rod to hitch brackish successful the wounds. 

Former F1 squad proprietor Eddie Jordan was raging 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 Irish businessman Jordan to say: "The reddish emblem was wrong, it was a mistake - helium f***** up, didn't he?"

What is going connected astatine the FIA?

It is precise uncommon for an F1 contention manager to beryllium changed successful the mediate of a season, particularly fixed determination are conscionable 3 races remaining.

Sources person said that Wittich near earlier than expected arsenic a effect of a autumn retired with Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

Ben Sulayem's reign has been stained by a drawstring of controversies, the latest of which was a missive published past week by the Grand Prix Drivers' Association.

They asked to beryllium treated similar adults successful the aftermath of Verstappen and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc being punished for swearing.

Wittich is besides the latest successful a bid of elder radical to permission the FIA successful the past year, with Luke Skipper, erstwhile manager of communications, leaving successful October 2024.

This coincided with the departure of Jacob Bangsgaard, the erstwhile caput wide of mobility. 

Nielsen besides near his relation arsenic sporting manager astatine the FIA successful December 2023, conscionable earlier single-seater method manager Tim Goss followed suit. 

Rui Marques, the F2 and F3 contention director, has been named arsenic the German's replacement from adjacent week's Las Vegas Grand Prix.

A 3rd contention manager since F1 2021 shows relation could beryllium a poisoned chalice

Whatever the crushed for Wittich’s exit, it is portion of a worrying inclination arsenic the FIA looks to beryllium incapable of retaining elder staff.

Wittich has held the relation since the 2022 play aft Michael Masi was removed from the presumption pursuing a governing assemblage reappraisal into the arguable 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The FIA confirmed "human error" was a origin successful the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP rubric controversy.

In the report, the FIA acknowledged Masi contravened F1 regulations with his handling of the precocious Safety Car and his allowing of 1 last racing thigh betwixt Verstappen and Hamilton.

It seems the FIA's contention manager relation could beryllium a poisoned chalice and the vicious exit rhythm whitethorn repetition itself.