Former F1 race director Michael Masi breaks his silence and reflects on his career after it emerged he is quitting the FIA… but makes no mention of THAT decision in Abu Dhabi which handed the F1 title to Max Verstappen over Lewis Hamilton
- Michael Masi is moving to Australia to be closer to his friends and family
- He will be remembered for his role in the last race of last season, where Max Verstappen dramatically won the title on the last lap in Abu Dhabi
- Masi was sacked from his race director role earlier this year and is now stepping away from working with the FIA altogether
Michael Masi has broken his silence a day after his decision to step away from Formula One – his first public remarks since the controversial 2021 season-ending race in Abu Dhabi.
It emerged on Tuesday that Masi is moving back to Australia to be closer to his family.
Masi was the race director for the 2021 F1 season, but he caused huge controversy in the season-ending showdown in Abu Dhabi, essentially wrestling the title away from Lewis Hamilton with a decision later described as ‘human error’ by FIA chiefs.
Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas replaced Masi in the role as race directors, with the pair so far avoiding any major controversy in the 2022 season.
At the start of 2022, Masi was sacked from the race director role but remained at the FIA, with new president Mohammed Ben Sulayem insisting he is ‘still an important figure’ within the company. Masi had taken the race director role on in place of Charlie Whiting, who died shortly before the Australian Grand Prix back in 2019.
Now, as he prepares to walk away, Masi has reflected on his career in racing but made no mention of the Verstappen-Hamilton incident in Abu Dhabi that he will be remembered for.
Former F1 race director Michael Masi has left the FIA entirely to move back to Australia
It was Masi’s decision making at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last season which saw him sacked after ‘human error’ set up a last lap shootout between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton
Masi has now given a statement reflecting upon his career working in Formula One
He said in a statement: ‘It has been a pleasure and honour representing the FIA as the Single-Seater Sporting Director and FIA Formula 1 Race Director and Safety Delegate since Charlie’s unexpected and tragic passing in Melbourne 2019.
‘Having worked on various projects around the world with the Federation and its Member Clubs for over a decade prior to my appointment, I have now decided to leave the organisation and relocate back to Australia to be closer to my family and friends.
‘I am proud to have worked in partnership for many years with the various FIA Member Clubs, Formula 1 Group, the Competitors, Promoters and Circuit Operators and my colleagues and team internally at the FIA. I will always treasure these lifelong relationships and friendships that I have developed throughout my journey to date.
‘In particular, I am eternally grateful to Herbie Blash and the late Charlie Whiting for identifying me as a future successor in 2018, a role that I was looking forward to shadowing and learning from Charlie for many years prior to his shock passing. I also pass on my sincere appreciation for the support and guidance during my tenure of the former FIA President Jean Todt, Stefano Domenicali, and my dedicated FIA Single Seater team.
‘I extend my appreciation to the tens of thousands of dedicated Volunteers and Officials that allow motorsport to happen each and every day around the World, as the safety of the competitors and officials has always remained my highest priority.
‘Thank you to the FIA President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem and his Presidential team for their personal support since their appointment and I wish them the best for the future.
‘The personal support of my family, friends, and colleagues globally during this journey and particularly in the last few months can only be described as overwhelming and something that I will forever cherish.’
But Masi will always be remembered in F1 folklore for the events in Abu Dhabi.
Heading towards the final laps of the final race in last December, Masi made the decision to allow the five cars separating race leader Lewis Hamilton and Verstappen to unlap themselves behind a safety car.
Verstappen (right) benefitted and he denied Hamilton (left) a record eighth world title win
Masi stepped up as F1 race director after the death of Charlie Whiting (pictured) in 2019
It set up a final lap shootout which Verstappen, on much fresher tyres, came out on top in to win the title.
An ensuing report detailed that Masi came under ‘immense pressure’ from ‘distracting’ radio exchanges from Mercedes and Red Bull before the ‘human error’ of allowing only those five cars the ability to unlap themselves, something which has been changed in the rulebook for this season.
Mercedes were left furious and they appeared to imply they may walk out on the sport had Masi not been replaced as race director.
