That the disputes over the race direction would certainly not have stopped with the dismissal of Michael Massi, after Abu Dhabi 2021 we had the premonition and then the confirmation in the following season. In 2022, the first year of President Mohammed Ben Sulayem's management, several episodes unleashed a new storm towards the FIAby turning it back on controversy. The lack of a clear and universal regulation has frustrated the efforts of the Federation which, among some important measures, had identified two figures alternating for the role of race director: Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas.
One of the most controversial episodes, at least in terms of safety, was that of the crane used to recover a stationary car in extremely wet conditions at Suzuka, with safety regime and the cars still on the track. Since that episode, which sadly recalled the dynamics of the fatal accident involving Jules Bianchi in 2014, right on the Japanese track, race direction has been entrusted exclusively to Wittich for the remaining races on the calendar. Although there are still no official statements, it would seem that Ben Sulayem is forming a new group of race directors, thus marking yet another change.
A team of several elements
It can always be improved. In the case of the FIA, we need to improve and this also emerged in the 2022 season. Not only to protect the safety of the drivers but also the moral integrity of the sport, which requires a clear and universal guideline. Especially given the efforts to revive the category in recent years. Episodes that relate appeals, track limits, penalties, if and when to display the red flag, are the order of the day in Formula 1 but for this very reason they should be managed in a more homogeneous way to avoid generating confusion also among the spectators.
To do it, I'm Sulayem, as reported by the Spanish magazine Soy Motor, has clarified the way forward from 2023. “There is a path in progress, we have a team that is working on training the marshals and race officials. There can't be just one and totally rely on him for the whole season, we have to think about forming a second line. If we want to support the world of engines, we must be prepared, provide training and we believe that somewhere there is a better commissioner or race director: for this we say contact us and we will train you”.
It will therefore be a multi-headed figure, that of the race director. We will have to see if they will all be new or if at least Wittich will be given a second chance. A system which, however, is not liked by the riders and teams who would like to see a single figure as a reference, to also give continuity. The FIA's relationship with F1 is becoming increasingly strained, as the constant mistakes of the race officials combined with the conflict between the two over adding an additional team of F1 have led to tensions. To make the whole machine work, the two realities must travel on the same track.
Source statements: autosprint
