PARIS, France (AFP) — Formula One’s Race Director Niels Wittich has left his role with immediate effect, FIA said on Tuesday, in a surprise move. The German, who replaced Michael Masi in 2022, will be replaced for the Las Vegas Grand Prix on November 23 by Rui Marques, who was recently the race director for Formula Two and Three.

In a statement issued by the FIA, F1’s governing body said Wittich had left the role "to pursue new opportunities.”

Niels Wittich, the race director for Formula 1, has stepped down from his position with immediate effect. Wittich's sudden departure, coming just before the con