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Who are Eduardo Freitas and Niels Wittich, and why are they replacing Michael Masi in F1?

Who are Eduardo Freitas and Niels Wittich, and why are they replacing Michael Masi in F1?

F1 and the FIA came in for criticism about how the final laps were handled at the last year’s season finale, which triggered the investigation led by new FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem over the winter.

The outcome sees Masi replaced as F1 race director by WEC race director Eduardo Freitas and former DTM race director Niels Wittich who will alternate the role, while former deputy race director Herbie Blash has been appointed as a senior advisor.

Blash acted as former F1 race director Charlie Whiting’s right-hand man until leaving the role as deputy race director at the end of the 2016 season. Since then, Blash has worked as a consultant to Yamaha on its World Superbike programme.

Further changes to race control will also be installed this year, with remote assistance from an off-site FIA facility which has been likened to the video assistant referee (VAR) in football.

Radio communication between teams and race control will also no longer be broadcast, while the unlapping…

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