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‘Possibility’ Michael Masi could be replaced as F1 racing director


Michael Masi, the Formula One race director at the heart of the controversy surrounding last year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, could be replaced in his role in 2022, according to an FIA official investigating the matter. subject.

Last year’s championship results continue to be a source of controversy in sports and have sowing uncertainty about Lewis Hamilton future in F1.

According to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, Hamilton was “disillusioned” by the events in Abu Dhabi and ESPN understands that the results of the FIA ​​investigation could determine whether the seven-time champion returns to the grid this year.

Tell the Austrian newspaper Voralberger NachrichtenFIA director Peter Bayer, who will make recommendations to the F1 and FIA teams based on the results of the investigation, said he could not rule out the possibility of Masi being replaced as race director.

“Michael did a great job in many ways,” he said. “We certainly don’t want to lose him.

“We told him that, but there is also the possibility of a new race director.

“I can only make recommendations to the World Council, and they will certainly include Michael.”

Masi’s explanation of F1’s Safety Car rules during the final laps of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix gave Max Verstappen a chance to beat Hamilton for the 2021 title that he wouldn’t have had if the regulations had are followed in the letter.

Mercedes protested Masi’s decision after the race only for the FIA ​​managers to dismiss the team’s complaint and uphold the result.

Mercedes considered appealing the manager’s decision but ultimately withdrew the appeal when the FIA ​​agreed to open an investigation into the matter.

The investigation was launched earlier this month but the recommendations from its findings will not be signed by the FIA’s World Motor Sports Council (WMSC) until March 18, just two days before The race to open the new season takes place.

Before that date, Bayer will make recommendations for changes to the teams and new FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

In an interview with Voralberger Nachrichten, Bayer said that if Mercedes successfully appeals the results of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December, the outcome will most likely be a forfeited race result, meaning Verstappen will remain. Be crowned champion based on score points before the race.

“Masi has a number of options in those seconds when he has to decide, all by the rules,” Bayer said. “He could have finished the race under the safety car, he was able to stop [red flag as in Baku], but Nicholas Latifi’s accident wouldn’t justify that. Or he could have done what he did, which is to get out of there somehow.

“If Mercedes’ objection was taken to the Court of Appeal after being rejected by the management, what would happen? invalid result.

“But even then – in the event of a cancellation – Max Verstappen will still be world champion. It’s also about respect for the race director.”

Bayer said one of his initial conclusions at this stage was that the race director needs more support in his role and that the responsibilities of the race director, including sport, can be safe. track inspection responsibility, should be divided among different individuals.

“There will be a diverse division of duties by the race director, who is also the sporting director, the safety representative and the track. That’s just outrageous,” Bayer said.

One thing that was noted during the manager’s investigation after the Abu Dhabi race was that the teams had previously requested that races not be finished under safety cars. Bayer said the teams still support that stance, meaning alternatives could be factored into the rules to avoid any possibility of the race ending behind a safety car.

“We also asked the teams whether their claim not to finish the race in the Safety Car was still relevant, and they all confirmed,” Bayer said.

He also revealed that the FIA ​​would consider creating additional support through a “mission control” based in Geneva, which would act as a support group much like the remote engineering teams that the F1 teams have returned to their factory for race weekends.

Bayer confirmed that, as previously reported, team principals will no longer be able to speak directly to the race director and new forms of communication between the teams and the FIA ​​during the race will be established. set up to relieve pressure on the race director. .



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