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.

Former F1 race director Niels Wittich has reportedly claimed he did “not resign” – a matter of hours after the FIA announced his departure from his role. The FIA, F1’s governing body, said in a statement on Tuesday afternoon that 52-year-old Wittich had “stepped down” from his position to “pursue new opportunities.

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