Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has questioned the ''strange departure'' of Formula One race director Nils Wittich.

Wittich's unexpected exit was announced last week, with no explanation for his departure.

The development drew questions from drivers and directors who were surprised by the news as well.

Vasseur commented, "The momentum of this decision is a bit of an odd topic for me because now we are at the end of the championship, and it's probably the three most difficult races to manage. Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi are all significant challenges. The timing feels strange to me."

He added, "But I'm not involved in the discussions within the FIA, so I don't want to take a position on this. Still, the timing is unusual."

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff emphasized the need for stability, recalling how a previous race director, Michael Masi, changed safety car procedures. The situation ultimately cost Lewis Hamilton a championship in Abu Dhabi in 2021.

Meanwhile, Alpine's Oliver Oakes has expressed confidence in the new race director, Rui Marques, who has been promoted from Formula 2.

"I think he'll be fine. If they've given him the chance, it's because everyone believes he’s ready to take that position," Oakes said, noting his familiarity with Marques from their time in junior series racing.

Former racer and Sky Sports commentator Martin Brundle remarked on the confusion surrounding Wittich's departure.

He quoted Wittich, saying, "I was fired, I didn't step away from it," and noted that Wittich seemed to be enjoying his role and expected to continue.

Wittich also mentioned to a German website that he had not resigned, but did not provide further details.

The FIA stated that Wittich left "to pursue new opportunities," but Brundle pointed out, "Until we understand more about it and why, it's hard to say whether this was a good or a bad decision. Coming into a difficult race, it’s not ideal. Surely, they could have waited until the winter?"