List of Formula One race directors

The following is a list of Formula One race directors of the FIA Formula One races. The race director is in charge of race operations at every Grand Prix during weekend in whole Formula One season. They are responsible for a regular and safe processes of the race weekend, including: [1]

  • Deploying the safety car
  • Managing the marshals around the circuit
  • Decistion which flags are shown to drivers at different points of the circuit
  • Monitoring track limits
  • Pressing the button which makes the lights on the grid go out to signal the start of the Grand Prix

The race director is employed by the FIA. A permanent Formula One race director was established in 1980. Before this period, the race director was not fixed, and they were appointed for every Formula One race. The role was also called as Formula One starter.

List of Formula One race directors

Name

(Birth–Death)

Term of office Country of origin
Took office Left office
Derek Ongaro

(1929–1996)

1980 1987  United Kingdom
Roland Bruynseraede

(born 1939)

1988 1995  Belgium
Roger Lane-Nott

(born 1945)

1996 1997  United Kingdom
Charlie Whiting

(1952-2019)

1998 2018  United Kingdom
Michael Masi

(born 1978)

2019 2022  Australia
Niels Wittich

(born 1972)

Eduardo Freitas

(born 1961)

(rotated position)

2023 2023  Germany

 Portugal

Niels Wittich 2024 2024  Germany
Rui Marques

(born 1972)

2025 Incumbent  Portugal

[2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

References

  1. ^ "F1 race director: Job explained and Rui Marques profile". BBC Sport. 2024-11-13. Retrieved 2025-01-11.
  2. ^ "Derek Ongaro". Formula 1 Wiki. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
  3. ^ "Charlie Whiting, F1's race director, dies aged 66". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 2023-11-05. Retrieved 2025-01-11.
  4. ^ "Latest Formula 1 Breaking News - Grandprix.com". www.grandprix.com. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
  5. ^ "FIA confirm F1 Race Director Niels Wittich to step down". Formula 1® - The Official F1® Website. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
  6. ^ "Niels Wittich: FIA confirms immediate departure of F1 race director with Rui Marques named replacement". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 2025-01-05. Retrieved 2025-01-12.