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,

Formula 1 race director Niels Wittich has stepped down with immediate effect, the FIA confirmed on Tuesday. He will be replaced by Rui Marques from the next race -- the Las Vegas Grand Prix -- on Nov. 24. F1's race director oversees all sporting and technical matters, with individual cases at events delegated to a rotating panel of race stewards.