'Pretty f***ed up': Daniel Ricciardo twist emerges in F1 controversy

Daniel Ricciardo's initial reaction to the controversy surrounding Max Verstappen's triumph in the Formula One title decider in Abu Dhabi has come to light, with the Aussie driver describing the debacle as "pretty f***ed up".

Australian official Michael Masi has found himself unwittingly one of the central players in one of modern sport's great dramas as his decisions shaped the incredible season-ending F1 climax.

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The 43-year-old F1 race director was slammed, praised and given plenty of sympathy in turn over his fateful, pressurised call to allow the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to resume for one last, momentous lap on Sunday.

Masi found himself facing fury from Mercedes over his handling of the ending of a terribly-timed safety car period after Nicholas Latifi's late crash.

Masi ruled that five cars in between Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton could unlap themlseves during the safety car period while also ending the period one lap early.

Both calls allowed Verstappen and Hamilton to face off for one final lap of drama, which culminated in Verstappen overtaking his fierce rival to win the race and championship.

Ricciardo, who finished 12th in Abu Dhabi, was one of the cars told they couldn't unlap themlseves and overtake during the safety car period.

The McLaren driver said he had the perfect view to watch the frantic finish, and his initial reaction on team radio has since been revealed.

“I'm glad I'm not part of that, whatever just happened. Seemed, uh, pretty f***** up," he told his team soon after crossing the finish line.

The Aussie driver later explained: “I was confused because I got that message that they won’t overtake.

“I thought, ‘That seems okay,’ like I guess, fair, because Lewis had such a lead and Max has newer tyres, in this way he has to cut through a few cars if they’re going to restart the race.

“Then I saw some cars overtake so I asked, ‘What do I do, do I pass?’ and then I think Tom [Stallard] said, ‘No, you have to stay here.’

“So I’ve literally got front row seats for the last lap. I’m honestly a bit speechless, I don’t know what to make of that. I really don’t.

"I need to see how it all came about.”

Former world champions support Michael Masi actions

The messy affair still isn't over as Mercedes filed for reconsideration to the International Court of Appeal - in response to FIA stewards hours after Sunday's race rejecting a pair of protests lodged by the team.

A trio of former world champions Nico Rosberg, Damon Hill and Jenson Button had sympathy for Masi's plight.

Rosberg, the 2016 champion, called for more support in decision-making for the Australian.

"You've got to feel some compassion for him (Masi). He's got the whole world watching and he has to decide in the next 15 seconds what he's doing," Rosberg said.

"It's the last lap of the last race of the world championship, that is the ultimate, most high-pressure situation in the world, and he took his decision which gave us beautiful awesome racing and an incredible finale.

"We need to be careful. Michael's job this year has been so unbelievably difficult to manage this intense battle.

"Michael needs support this winter, there needs to be progress over frameworks and guidelines and we should be in a better position for next year."

But Hill noted that, although he understood why Masi wanted proceedings to finish with a proper race, the official had sent "messages that were contradictory".

Button noted Masi had earlier been put under pressure by Horner, who complained to him after Hamilton had not been penalised for going off the track and gaining an advantage when under pressure from Verstappen.

"Both Mercedes and Red Bull were talking to the referee (Masi) during the race and they can't be swaying the decision. It's difficult enough as it is for Michael Masi," Button said.

with AAP

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