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

Niels Wittich, the FIA’s Formula One race director, has allegedly been fired with three races of the season remaining after what sources described as a falling out with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

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.