Formula 1 and the FIA came under fire for the way the closing laps of last year’s season finale were handled, triggering the investigation led by new FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem over the winter. .
The result is that Michael Masi has been ousted as F1 race director by WEC director Eduardo Freitas and former DTM race director Niels Wittich , who will alternate in the role, while former deputy race director career, Herbie Blash , has been appointed senior adviser.
Blash acted as the right-hand man to former F1 race director Charlie Whiting , until he stepped down from the role of deputy race director at the end of the 2016 season. Since then he has worked as an advisor to Yamaha on their World Superbike programme.
Other changes to race control will also be introduced this year, with remote assistance from an FIA facility outside the circuits, which has been compared to the video assistant referee ( VAR ) used in football.
Radio communication between teams and race control will no longer be broadcast on TV broadcasts. Meanwhile, the procedure in which lapped cars can overtake the safety car will be reviewed.
Who are Eduardo Freitas and Niels Wittich?
Eduardo Freitas
Like former F1 race director Charlie Whiting, Eduardo Freitas began his motorsport career as a mechanic, first with a passion for motorcycles before entering the world of karting in 1979.
The Portuguese rose from track official to become race director in karting.
Freitas was working as track secretary at Estoril in 2002 when he was asked to take charge of the FIA GT and ETCC championships for a season, and he remained in that role until the end of 2009.
The FIA passed Freitas to the FIA GT1 world championship before he became race director of the World Endurance Championship in 2012. He also acts as director in the European Le Mans Series and the Asian Le Mans Series.
Niels Wittich
Niels Wittich is the former race director of the German DTM touring car championship, having stepped down at the end of 2021, when he was already set to move into F1 for 2022 on a full-time basis supporting Michael Masi.
The German had previously been appointed race director for the FIA F2 and F3 championships, while assisting the F1 director at certain events.
Why do Eduardo Freitas and Niels Wittich replace Michael Masi?
The new FIA president, Mohammed ben Sulayem , who was chosen to replace Jean Todt just days after the Abu Dhabi GP, stated that one of his first promises would be to investigate the F1 race and enact the necessary changes based on the conclusions.
Ben Sulayem announced that Masi would be replaced as F1 race director after his role at Yas Marina, when he allowed only cars with one lap down and between title contenders Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen to overtake the safety car, allowing for a melee engagement on the final turn.
This situation seemed to contradict all previous safety car restart procedures. As part of the analysis of the Abu Dhabi GP investigation, Ben Sulayem found it necessary to replace Masi with Freitas and Wittich who will share the role of F1 race director.
What experience do they have in motorsports?
Eduardo Freitas
Eduardo Freitas has been the race director in the World Endurance Championship since his first appointment in its current creation in March 2012. He has been in charge of all the WEC events, including the 24 hours of Le Mans , and has more than 40 years of experience in motorsport.
Niels Wittich
Niels Wittich has most recently been the DTM race director, while he has also worked as part of F1’s race control team at various grands prix in 2021.
Have you worked in F1 before?
Eduardo Freitas
Freitas has not worked directly in F1 before, but has worked alongside Michael Masi and his predecessor Charlie Whiting at FIA conferences and governing body race directors’ meetings, including at the Portuguese Grand Prix in 2020 in Portimao.
Niels Wittich
Wittich was on call at several F1 races in 2021 in support of Michael Masi, and was eyed for a permanent F1 role for 2022 ahead of the Abu Dhabi GP investigation.
What will change in Formula 1?
Michael Masi will no longer handle Formula 1 racing. Instead, the role will be shared by Eduardo Freitas and Niels Wittich, with the help of Herbie Blash , who will play a senior advisory role, starting with pre-season testing. of Barcelona from February 23 to 25.
Race control will also be remotely assisted by an FIA facility outside the circuit, which will assist the race director with decisions from a Virtual Race Control Room. You will have a real-time connection with the race director and help apply the sports regulations.
Direct radio communications during on-track sessions between teams and the race director will be restricted, and will not be broadcast on television, but teams will still be able to ask questions of the director under a new process that is intended to be non-intrusive.
Procedures for a car that has lost a lap to make up the lap behind a safety car will also be reviewed by F1’s sporting advisory committee, and presented to the next F1 Commission.
What will happen to Michael Masi?
Michael Masi has been offered a new role within the FIA but will not be involved in shaping F1’s race management. It is believed that the new role offered to Masi will be one related to security.
