Another ‘twist’ in Abu Dhabi GP plot as FIA admits being aware of leaked audio messages between Red Bull and Michael Masi

Another ‘twist’ in Abu Dhabi GP plot as FIA admits being aware of leaked audio messages between Red Bull and Michael Masi

Michael Masi

The controversy that happened in the last lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix doesn’t seem to go away. Michael Masi title radio messages still keep on grabbing headlines for the wrong reason. The chat between the camps was interesting to say the least.

Mercedes and Red Bull quite obviously had different requests as far the suggestions were concerned regarding as to how to end the safety car period.

What raised eyebrows was the fact that it seemed like Michael Masi reverberated the original message to Red Bull to him while he responded to Mercedes. One of the members of the FIA governing body: “We are aware of this and it is part of the investigation.”

There was another incident which was equally controversial was how did the FIA dealt with lapped cars and also the conversation between Jonathan Wheatley and Michael Masi as they were trying to put in one racing lap before the end. 

What we need to note is the fact that Max Verstappen was on the new tyres and was more than likely to win the race and in turn, the championship.

FIA and Michael Masi echoing Red Bull’s messages, raises eyebrows

Michael Masi on Toto Wolff claims
Michael Masi

The conversation went on with Wheatley saying, “Those lapped cars; you don’t need to let them go right the way around and catch up with the back of the pack. You only need to let them go, and then we’ve got a motor race on our hands.”

Masi replies: “Understood.”

Toto Wolff, who is the team principal, didn’t hold back in putting forth his emotion as to what happened was not right.

Masi replies: “Toto, it’s called a motor race, OK?”

Red Bull team Principal Christian Horner had previously said to Masi: “Why aren’t we getting these lapped cars out of the way? You only need one racing lap,” as reported by BBC.

Since we have had access to the conversations between the FIA, Mercedes and Red Bull, it’s safe to say that Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes were hard done by Michael Masi and the FIA. No team should be allowed to exert any amount of pressure on FIA in the middle of a title deciding race, especially. If the FIA needs to maintain the level of legitimacy, it needs to have a good hard look at itself.

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