Old footage exposes F1 boss in Abu Dhabi Grand Prix controversy
Old footage has emerged from last year's Eifel GP that could work against F1 director Michael Masi after he came under intense scrutiny for his role in the 2021 championship decider.
Australian official 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.
Aussie driver Daniel Ricciardo was one driver who was left baffled over the call during the race after he was left behind Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton during their duel.
Critics claim if Masi had followed the letter of the law, the race would have finished behind the safety car and Hamilton would have been crowned champion because overtaking would have been prohibited.
However, while Masi has defended the call, his words from a GP last year could come back to haunt him.
At the Eifel GP in October 2020, McLaren's Lando Norris suffered engine failure and was forced to retire after smoke and fire erupted from his car.
Masi organised a safety car to be implemented as Norris' car was removed from the track.
He then allowed all lapped cars to un-lap themselves, which included 10 cars.
Norris was ruled out on lap 44, but it wasn't until lap 50 the race continued following the safety car process.
At the time, Masi was criticised for the lengthy process.
Fans claimed he was trying to make a more dramatic finish to the race.
This follows a similar line of criticism following the Abu Dhabi race.
Masi told Motorsport Weekly that he had to ensure up to 10 cars un-lapped in the process.
“From that point, it was position six onwards that were still running [on the lead lap], so between 10 or 11 cars had to un-lap themselves.
“Therefore the safety car period was a bit longer than what we would have normally expected.”
His words do appear to contradict the race directive on the weekend in Abu Dhabi.
F1 world divided over Michael Masi call
Masi's call certainly divided the F1 world.
The 1996 world champion Damon Hill let his feelings known on social media.
“This is a new way of running the sport where the Race Director can make these ad hoc decisions,” he tweeted.
“Its been a bit too ‘guess what I’m going to do now’ I think.”
He later reeled in his opinion and said it would be a tough job being F1 director and making decisions within seconds.
Nico Rosberg, a former teammate of Hamilton and 2016 championship winner, said Masi's job is extremely tough.
“The world is watching and he has to take a decision in 15 seconds,” Rosberg said after the race.
“It is the last lap of the final race of the championship, the most pressurised of situations.
“His decision provided us with a magnificent racing moment and an unbelievable climax.
“Michael’s job was incredibly tough."
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