Aussie Masi sacked as F1 race director
Ian Chadband |
Michael Masi has lost his job as Formula One’s race director following his controversial role in the dramatic finale to the 2021 season.
The Australian official, who’s been under fire ever since his fateful decisions at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, has paid the price for his part in helping gift the world title to Max Verstappen at the expense of a disenchanted Lewis Hamilton.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the sport’s governing body, Federation Internationale de l’Automobile, (FIA) said on Thursday that Masi would be offered a new, as yet unnamed role in the FIA.
It had been widely expected that Masi would be dropped following the widespread criticism from Mercedes, whose driver Hamilton had also complained December’s race was “manipulated”.
The FIA confirmed that it will replace Masi with Portuguese Eduardo Freitas and German Niels Wittich in a wholesale restructuring of race control, which will also see the introduction of a Video Assistant Referee system similar to that used in football.
“I would like to inform you that a new race management team will be put in place starting in Barcelona for the test session next week,” said Ben Sulayem.
“Michael Masi, who accomplished a very challenging job for three years as Formula 1 race director following Charlie Whiting, will be offered a new position within the FIA.”
Freitas and Wittich will alternate in the race director role, helped by veteran FIA official Michael ‘Herbie’ Blash, who, like Masi, had been the highly-respected Whiting’s assistant.
Masi, who has previously held other jobs in the FIA including safety delegate and circuit inspector, now has the decision whether to accept a new role but it clearly won’t be in the business end of race control.
The controversy that cost Masi his job happened in the heat of one of the great climaxes to any F1 season as Verstappen and Hamilton duelled for the title.
Following a late crash in December’s race which meant a safety car had to be introduced while Hamilton was leading, Masi decided, under some pressure, to let only the lapped cars between Hamilton and second-placed Verstappen through.
That allowed Verstappen on fresh tyres to pass Hamilton for the title on the one lap after the safety car came in.
Yet Masi had also reversed his first ruling on the issue after a radio protest from Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, leaving Mercedes apoplectic.
The FIA have since undertaken a full investigation into the denouement with Hamilton so unhappy that he’s said his future in the sport could be dependent on the outcome.
The British driver is due to speak for the first time about the episode when Mercedes launches its new car at Silverstone on Friday.
Masi’s role has been taken from him despite recent shows of support for the official from top drivers including Sebastian Vettel, Lando Norris and his Australian compatriot Daniel Ricciardo.
But his fate was sealed at a meeting of the the key players on Monday in London with Masi, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and Red Bull team principal Christian Horner all present.
Ben Sulayem’s plans, which have been backed by all the F1 teams, include a “Virtual Race Control Room” to be created to act like VAR in football.
He also revealed that communication between the pit wall and the race director would no longer be aired on TV and that, before the new season starts, there would be reassessment of the unlapping procedures behind the safety car.
With PA
AAP
