‘Hugely unacceptable!’ Martin Brundle ‘uncomfortable’ of hearing leaked audio clip between Red Bull and Masi


‘Hugely unacceptable!’ Martin Brundle ‘uncomfortable’ of hearing leaked audio clip between Red Bull and Masi

Max Verstappen Michael Masi and Lewis Hamilton

The end of Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was quite controversial and was filled with mixed emotions by fans all around the world. Many celebrated Max Verstappen’s win while many were sad over Lewis Hamilton’s loss. But the man who got the most hate towards the end of the season was Michael Masi, FIA’s Formula One race director for his decision pertaining the arguable safety car rule.

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When the Safety car had come out for the Williams’ Nicholas Latifi after he crashed into the sides, Max Verstappen was seen trailing behind Lewis Hamilton by more than 10 seconds during the last few laps of the final race of the 2021 season.

In this race for the World title where the winner takes all, both the teams, Red bull and Mercedes pressed the Race Control Button as and when the cars were reaching for the checkered flag behind the safety car. Red Bull and Mercedes urged the FIA race director, Michael to put in a play a situation which would be beneficial for their drivers.

Jonathan Wheatley, sporting director at the Red bull racing Formula One team argued on the radio 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.” To which Michael replies with “Understood”.

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After Toto Wolff complained that Masi’s decision to only allow unlapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen to move out of the way was “not right,” Masi responded, “Toto, it’s called a motor race, OK?”, siding with Red Bull.

Martin Brundle’s take on Michael Masi’s decision

Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton

Martin Brundle is a former British racing driver who is best known for his driving at Formula One and as a commentator for ITV Sports and BBC before he joined Sky Sports in 2012.

“It’s not new news, and also I think you have to understand that it’s not necessarily telling Michael Masi something he didn’t already know,” as he highlights the situation where the teams should not be able to influence the race director.

He then goes on talking about Mercedes and the disappointment of fans around the world due to unfair and unclear rules in the f1 handbook and says,

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“Let’s not assume it’s giving Masi information he didn’t already know in terms of what he could and couldn’t do in terms of the lapped pack.

“Of course, it’s really uncomfortable, and a lot of people are unhappy: Hamilton fans, Mercedes fans.

“And you don’t even have to be a Lewis Hamilton fan to think that forever he should be an eight-time World Champion, because, for me, the really crucial regulation that wasn’t carried out was that the safety car should have come in at the end of the following lap,” added Brundle.

“But we also know that unwritten rules and meetings, which shouldn’t supersede anything, were: let’s try not to have a race finish behind the Safety Car,” Martin continued.

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“Hugely unacceptable. I met so many fans that were new to Formula 1 last year particularly, and fans in general, that were hugely upset by what happened,” he said as quoted by Planet F1.

“We cannot – and we know it’s going to change – have teams getting at the referee while he’s trying to make critical decisions with cars on the track and marshals and breakdown vehicles.”

“The car was on fire at certain times. He’s trying to manage that and he’s getting lobbied left, right and center.”

After this event, Ross Brawn made it abundantly clear that no team will be able to contact the race director during the following upcoming seasons.

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Also Read: ‘Result had been rigged to stop Lewis Hamilton winning!’ British politician, Peter Hain SLAMS ‘shameful’ FIA for Abu Dhabi GP fiasco