Wittich 'still remains unsure' about the reasons behind his dismissal by the FIA.

      "I lost my job at the end of the meeting."

      Former Formula 1 race director Niels Wittich states that he was let go by the FIA without any explanation, referring to his abrupt dismissal as "the disappointing truth" regarding how senior officials are treated under the organization's leadership. In an interview with DPA news agency, Wittich shared that he was called to Geneva during a break in the racing schedule late in the 2024 season, anticipating a standard coordination meeting. Instead, he left Switzerland without his position.

      "That’s not unusual in itself; it had happened before that we consulted or coordinated with colleagues on site," Wittich explained. "However, without any specific incident occurring between the FIA and me, at least as I remember it, I lost my job at the conclusion of the meeting."

      Wittich maintains that he did not resign, which contradicts the FIA’s assertion at the time that he had stepped down to seek "new opportunities." "I repeatedly inquired during the discussion about the rationale behind this action," he stated. "To this day, I have not received an answer. I simply don’t know why."

      The FIA had commended Wittich’s "professionalism and dedication" in its announcement, but he claims he was among several officials dismissed during a broader internal purge under current FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. "It does indeed leave a bad taste that so many people had to leave," Wittich commented, mentioning long-time chief steward Tim Mayer and deputy Formula 2 race director Janette Tan among those impacted. "This included not just freelancers, but many who were also removed from permanent roles without any reasoning."

      Wittich became the sole F1 race director in 2023 after Michael Masi's departure and the conclusion of a shared position with Eduardo Freitas. His time in the role was marked by controversies, particularly regarding the enforcement of jewelry regulations. "The FIA’s stance was that there is a valid set of rules that needs to be enforced, and I ensured that compliance with those rules was maintained," Wittich noted. "Formula 1 stars serve as role models — the next generation looks up to them."

      Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher has previously referred to Wittich’s termination as an "absolute misjudgment," suggesting that political pressure may have influenced it. Now the race director for the GT World Challenge and a TV expert for Sky, Wittich remarked, "Clearly, none of us were valued, and evidently, other matters took precedence over individual performance. That’s the disappointing reality I suddenly encountered. I don’t expect to receive an answer even in 100 years," Wittich concluded. "It was a good time, but it has come to an end."