Formula 1 race director Niels Wittich will be replaced 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 had “stepped down” and would be replaced starting from next week's Las Vegas Grand Prix by Rui Marques,

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