Formula 1’s race direction has been a revolving door of uncertainty since the tragic passing of Charlie Whiting in 2019. But in 2025, the FIA is making a push for stability, confirming that Portuguese official Rui Marques will remain as F1’s race director for the upcoming season.
Marques, who took over the role in November 2024 following the shock dismissal of Niels Wittich, will now oversee the full 24-race F1 calendar with newly appointed deputy race director Claire Dubbelman.
This decision, along with a fresh wave of race officials being trained, signals the FIA’s commitment to long-term consistency after years of high-profile officiating chaos.
The Marques Era: FIA Backs Its New Race Director
Rui Marques was thrown into the deep end in late 2024 when he suddenly replaced Wittich ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Before that, he had been residing over Formula 2, but was quickly thrust into a dual role, overseeing F1, F2, and F3 during the final stretch of the season.
Despite the immense pressure, Marques impressed FIA leadership, earning their trust to lead F1’s officiating team into 2025.
According to The Race, the FIA is doubling down on its faith in Marques, pairing him with Claire Dubbelman, who steps into the role of permanent deputy race director.
Dubbelman, who has been with the FIA since 2017, has an extensive background in managing championships, having overseen 26 racing series, including F2 and F3. Her appointment is expected to bring structure and experience to F1’s race control team, which has seen multiple shake-ups in recent years.
A Push for Stability After Years of Controversy
The FIA has struggled to maintain consistency in its race direction since the departure of Michael Masi in 2021, following the infamous Abu Dhabi Grand Prix debacle.
After Masi’s exit, Wittich and Eduardo Freitas were brought in to share the role, but the dual-director system was quickly scrapped. Wittich then operated solo in 2023 and most of 2024, until the FIA made another abrupt switch, replacing him with Marques.
With constant changes eroding trust in officiating, the FIA now hopes that the Marques-Dubbelman duo will restore stability to the sport.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem hinted at this shift last week, telling Marca:
“For sure, there will be new blood, and there will be more than one [race director]—that’s for sure.”
Investing in the Future: FIA’s High Performance Programme
While the focus is on immediate race direction stability, the FIA is also laying the groundwork for the next generation of motorsport officials.
The FIA’s High Performance Programme (HPP), an elite training initiative for future race directors and stewards, has launched its second cycle, bringing in 12 new candidates from 11 different countries across five continents.
The program maintains a 50/50 gender split and is designed to create a deep talent pool, ensuring that F1 and other top racing series have highly trained officials ready to step in when needed.
“The objective is to future-proof race operations,” an FIA spokesperson told The Race. “Through the pathway created by the High Performance Programme, we are preparing the next generation of FIA officials to work at the highest level of motorsport.”
Ben Sulayem reinforced this vision, stating:
“The FIA is dedicated to identifying and nurturing officiating talent, ensuring accessibility and diversity, and providing the training and opportunities to empower. 2025 is the year of our officials.“
Can the FIA Finally Deliver Officiating Consistency?
For the sake of teams, drivers, and fans, the Marques-Dubbelman pairing must succeed.
After years of contentious calls, rule inconsistencies, and high-profile officiating changes, F1 desperately needs a steady, reliable hand at the top.
The hope is that 2025 marks the beginning of a new era—one where race directors are no longer the center of controversy, but instead, trusted figures ensuring fair, decisive, and consistent rulings.
For now, the FIA’s message is clear:
- Rui Marques is their guy.
- Claire Dubbelman is his second-in-command.
- And the FIA is actively training the next wave of officials.
Now, all that remains to be seen is whether Marques can succeed where his predecessors struggled—bringing clarity and consistency back to F1 race control.
