‘Disappointing and devastating!’ Close friend of former race director, Michael Masi reacts on latest FIA sack

‘Disappointing and devastating!’ Close friend of former race director, Michael Masi reacts on latest FIA sack

Micheal Masi

Following the controversial end to the 2021 Formula One season, Race Director Michael Masi has been sacked from his position. The FIA has since conducted new structural changes in the governing body and made improvements to make racing fair.

Michael Masi role of F1 race director following the sudden death of his predecessor Charlie Whiting in 2019.

Lewis Hamilton lost the season finale to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen after racing Wheel-to-Wheel in a nail-biting season. The controversial ruling by the then Race Director Michael Masi allowed the cars between Hamilton and Verstappen to unlap themselves giving the Dutchman a chance to make an overtake on the Briton with his fresher soft tyres.

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Masi had to make a tough call during a difficult situation

Michael Masi
Michael Masi

Speaking in an interview, Eugene Arocca, who considers himself a close friend of Masi, spoke about the former race director. Arocca said that for him personally, it is disappointing and unbelievable to see what has happened.

“It’s personally disappointing and devastating for me to see what has occurred,” said Arocca. “It’s been a tortuous two or three months of discussion, debate, criticism, public airing of view. This incident happened late last year, some three months ago now, and to a large degree it’s been a process that hasn’t leant itself to really being in a good frame of mind.”

“He’s got an extensive background and history. He’s very insightful, intelligent, and able to make decisions in the heat of a moment. That’s something that people may have lost in some of the debate,” he added while defending Masi. “It’s really easy to be a critic on the sidelines thinking what he went through when he was making those decisions. There would be other people that would be completely paralysed in exactly the same circumstances. He made the call. That is the first character trait of a strong leader.”

Following Masi’s sacking, Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas will alternate between races as the Race Director role. Blash will presume the role of ‘permanent senior advisor’ and shall be overseeing the decisions of the Race Director. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has said an alternate position for Masi will be provided in the FIA.

Also Read: Toto Wolff appreciates FIA for taking the ‘right steps’