Wittich gets to kick off and becomes race director in Bahrain

This weekend is the first race of the new F1 season. In addition to the sweeping technical and sporting rule changes, there is also a new race director. Eduardo Freitas and Niels Wittich will alternate in the position. In Bahrain, Wittich will be in charge.

Wittich will be first race director of 2022

Wittich will kick off and be the race director of the first F1 race of this season. Wittich had already resigned his role as race director of the DTM in 2021 to work full time within Formula 1. The new race director was not initially going to take this seat, but due to Michael Masi' s controversial decision in Abu Dhabi 2021, Wittich became a big part in the restructuring of the Race Management. Wittich will fill Masi's role and will alternate with Eduardo Freitas.

The FIA revealed on Thursday before the start of the weekend that Wittich will be the first to take on the role of leader. It is possible that Freitas was also unavailable this weekend, as the 1000km of  Sebring is also run these days. Freitas is best known as race director of the World Endurance Championship, which also includes the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Wittich will therefore be the race director this weekend and will be directly supported by Herbie Blash. In addition, the Virtual Race Control Room with remote assistance will also be at his service for the first time. Wittich and Freitas are probably going to have it easier than Masi in 2022. Direct radio contact between race control and teams is almost completely eliminated.