“I didn’t get rid of Michael”: Mohammed bin Sulayem says Michael Masi might return to F1
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Former FIA race director Michael Masi
Formula 1 has a new Supremo in Mohammed bin Sulayem, and in his first interview since taking on the role in December, he spoke out against the speculations that Michael Masi will never return to F1. Sulayem made the incendiary claim that controversial race director Michael Masi, who served as Formula One race director from 2019 to 2021, might make a comeback to the sport, in a new role.
Michael Masi, a 44-year-old Australian, had looked over every F1 race in the last two years to ensure the competing teams were abiding by the rules asserted by the FIA during, before, as well as after the races. But his ruling during the title deciding race at Abu Dhabi was believed to be erroneous, after an investigation was made into the matter.
As a result of Masi’s botched up decisions, he was sacked from his position as the F1 Race Director, and his post was given to Niels Wittich, current Race Director of DTM and Eduardo Freitas, Race Director of the World Endurance Championship, who will alternately handle this role. And while everyone thought Masi’s high-profile exit from Formula 1 is going to be permanent, newly appointed FIA President Mohammed bin Sulayem made it clear that Masi might return.
New F1 Chief Mohammad bid Sulayem says Michael Masi’s exit from the sport may not be permanent
Michael Masi had acted as Race Director during the high-tension title battle between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton during the 2021 Formula 1 World Championship. The close battle between the two fierce racers had dragged on till the very last race of the season in Abu Dhabi. And even there, Michael Masi’s one decision had turned the tables for 8-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton.
Towards the end of the Abu Dhabi race, following a safety car lap, Michael Masi had directed five cars who had been previously lapped, to go ahead and unlap themselves. This decision had helped Verstappen overtake Championship rival Lewis Hamilton and take the first position in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Masi’s ruling was met with vicious protests from Mercedes, and Toto Wolff even said Michael Masi was a ‘liability’ for F1.
According to the new F1 President, Michael Masi might make a comeback in F1. He said, “I didn’t get rid of Michael. He had a personal overload (of work) – safety delegate as well as race director. He made a mistake. It is not as if we said it is the end of Masi with the FIA. I don’t know Michael very well. The decision (to sack him as race director) was made by the World Council. It was human error on Michael’s part.”
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Riddhi Mondal
(1821 Articles Published)