New F1 race director Marques will also run F2 and F1 Academy races in Qatar · RaceFans

Recently-appointed Formula 1 race director Rui Marques will run six races in Qatar this weekend.

In addition to running his second grand prix weekend, which is a sprint event, the FIA has also named Marques as the race director for Formula 2 and F1 Academy’s double-headers at the Losail International Circuit.

Marques has been the F2 race director since the start of the 2022 season. He was unexpectedly called up to become F1 race director ahead of last weekend’s Las Vegas Grand Prix.

His predecessor as F1 race director, Niels Wittich, held that role over the last three seasons. However, the FIA announced in the weeks leading up to the Las Vegas Grand Prix that Wittich would be replaced by his F2 counterpart with immediate effect.

After completing his first grand prix weekend in Las Vegas, where the Ferrari Challenge sportscar series was the only support category, this weekend will see Formula 2 and the F1 Academy series return alongside Formula 1.

Janette Tan, an experienced FIA race director at Formula 4 level and the first ever recipient of the FIA’s Charlie Whiting Award, was set to take over from Marques as the F2 race director from this weekend. However FIA documents have confirmed Marques as the race director for F2 and F1 Academy in Qatar.

Tan has left the FIA, according to the BBC. Multiple reports have also confirmed the departure of long-time FIA steward Tim Mayer.

F1 drivers praised Marques’ performance in his first weekend as race director in Las Vegas. Race winner and Grand Prix Drivers Association director George Russell said he was impressed with how reactive Marques was to their suggestions and criticisms about the street circuit.

Marques also served as the race director for the Macau Grand Prix two weeks ago.

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