'What a mess': F1 world explodes over Michael Masi sacking
The FIA has sacked Formula One race director Michael Masi in a stunning move just a month out from the start of the 2022 season.
The Australian race director had come under intense scrutiny after last season's season finale in Abu Dhabi, where his unconventional interpretation of safety car rules lead to a highly controversial finish.
'OH MY GOD': Daniel Ricciardo lifts the lid on nasty F1 drama
FRESH OUTRAGE: Explosive audio emerges in Hamilton F1 controversy
Championship leaders Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen were level on points in the driver's championship heading into the final race of the season.
A spin from Nicholas Latifi brought the safety car out with just five laps remaining, with Hamilton leading on well-worn tires and Verstappen, who had managed to pit for fresh rubber, trailing in second, but with five lapped cars in between.
Normally, the race director must allow all lapped cars to overtake the safety car and rejoin at the rear of the field before the race can resume - but with just two laps to race and a grandstand championship finish on the line, Masi waved through the five cars separating Verstappen and Hamilton, then brought the safety car in for a one-lap sprint to the finish.
The move prompted outcry from Mercedes, with Red Bull's Verstappen able to easily get past Hamilton thanks to his tyre advantage.
An investigation was launched into the race in the weeks afterwards and will be published at the Bahrain season-opener on March 19 but the FIA has pre-empted the investigation by replacing Masi prior to the season.
The FIA has said it will replace Masi with Eduardo Freitas and Niels Wittich in a restructure of race control.
"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," FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said.
"Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas will act alternatively as race director, assisted by Herbie Blash as permanent senior advisor.
"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."
The decision sent shockwaves through the F1 world, with many wondering what it would mean for Verstappen's breakthrough championship and the circumstances under which he won.
Michael Masi sacked following his handling of the last laps of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. So it’s now confirmed he was wrong and his actions warrant sacking. Glad action has been taken. Max shouldn’t lose his title but it’s confirmation it was unfairly won. What a mess.
— Sophie Barley (@SophieBarley) February 17, 2022
Can’t help but feel a *little* bad for Masi. Hung out to dry by the sport’s desire for a “sporting finish”.
That race should have ended under safety car, and Belgium should never have started.
Also can’t help but think, he was less protected than Whiting, et al.
But that’s life.— Leigh M O'Gorman (@LeighOGorman) February 17, 2022
Masi's sacking raises a lot more questions for the FIA. If they're admitting his wrongdoing in Abu Dhabi, how can the 2021 result stand? Surely too late now to overturn/change the result, but Mercedes will be absolutely furious. After a brilliant season, this is a blow for F1.
— Ben Nagle (@bennagle17) February 17, 2022
F1 controversy costs Australian race director Michael Masi his job
The FIA's move to replace Masi has prompted further changes, with communication between team bosses and the race director to no longer be broadcast on live TV.
This has been done in order to alleviate pressure on the race director, after several instances last season of teams bothering the race director when they should have been able to focus their attention fully on the correct application of procedure.
Sulayem also announced the creation of a VAR-style system to provide additional support to the incoming race directors.
“Firstly, to assist the race director in the decision-making process, a Virtual Race Control Room will be created. Alike the Video Assistance Referee (VAR) in football, it will be positioned in one of the FIA offices as a backup outside the circuit,” Sulayem said.
“In real-time connection with the FIA F1 race director, it will help to apply the sporting regulations using the most modern technological tools.
“Direct radio communications during the race, currently broadcast live by all TVs, will be removed in order to protect the race director from any pressure and allow him to take decisions peacefully.
“It will still be possible to ask questions to the race director, according to a well-defined and non-intrusive process.”
Despite the controversy, Masi earned some sympathy from Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, who acknowledged Masi was thrust into a particularly difficult position during the season finale.
“I have a lot of respect for Michael for what he has done,” Leclerc said at Ferrari's 2022 season launch on Thursday.
“He had a difficult job, especially in Abu Dhabi.
“Whatever happened it was always going to be controversial. But the FIA has made a decision, has a lot more info and I fully trust it is the right decision.”
Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.