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

Formula 1 race director Niels Wittich stepped down in a surprise move with three races to go and the title yet to be decided.The series' governing body, the FIA, said on Tuesday that Wittich would be replaced starting from next week's Las Vegas Grand Prix by Rui Marques,

Niels Wittich has left his role as Formula 1's race director with immediate effect. The German, who had been in the role since 2022, "has stepped down from his position to pursue new opportunities," the FIA said in a statement to BBC Sport.

Formula 1 race director Niels Wittich has stepped down with immediate effect, the FIA confirmed on Tuesday.

According to the FIA Rui Marques, who has served as the Race Director for both F2 and F3, will take over as the F1 Race Director with the Las Vegas Grand Prix, later this month.

Niels Wittich became F1 race director in the wake of the departure of predecessor Michael Masi who was embroiled in scandal after his handling of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Niels Wittich is stepping down as Formula 1's race director with immediate effect. The FIA has already determined a successor, and that will be Rui Marques, who held the same position in Formula 2 and Formula 3.