[ad_1]
The FIA are in negotiations to find a new role for sacked race director Michael Masi because he remains an ‘important figure’ to Formula One’s governing body.
Despite the FIA making it clear in a report recently made public that ‘human error’ by Masi led to Max Verstappen‘s maiden world championship in Abu Dhabi last season, the president of the governing body, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, is keen to keep Masi involved.
‘[We wanted] to take the pressure and the stress from him, because he really went through a lot,’ Ben Sulayem said in a rare interview.
President Mohammed Ben Sulayem (right) said Michael Masi (left) is ‘still important’ to the FIA
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
Verstappen (right) benefitted and he denied Hamilton (left) a record eighth world title win
‘We are grateful for the three years that he invested with us, and he put his time [in].
‘But now we are negotiating with him of course to stay in the FIA.
‘He is [an] important figure to us so our people are negotiating other, I would not say a job, but another place for him within the FIA.’
Heading towards the final laps of the final race in Abu Dhabi, Masi made the decision to allow the five cars separating race leader Lewis Hamilton and Verstappen to unlap themselves behind a safety car.
It set up a final lap shootout which Verstappen, on much fresher tyres, came out on top in to win the title.
Once the safety car came out and Verstappen pitted, five cars including Lando Norris, Fernando Alonso, Esteban Ocon, Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel (not pictured) were between Hamilton and his title rival, essentially securing the Mercedes man the world title
However, those five cars were ordered by Masi to overtake the safety car to set up straight fight between Hamilton and Verstappen ahead of the final lap of the race at Yas Marina circuit
The 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.
The new role for Masi was not expanded upon and it is at this stage unclear if he will take up any offer to stay working with the FIA.
Masi was sacked following the events of the race and replaced by a joint team consisting of Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas.
Despite the Australian’s dismissal, the report stated that Masi was ‘acting with good faith’.
The report reads: ‘In combination with the objective to finish under green flag racing conditions applied throughout the 2021 season, the report finds that the Race Director was acting in good faith and to the best of his knowledge given the difficult circumstances, particularly acknowledging the significant time constraints for decisions to be made and the immense pressure being applied by the teams.’
The FIA have looked to defend Masi in public statements despite electing to sack him
WEC race director Eduardo Freitas (left) and ex-DTM race director Niels Wittich (right) have been appointed to replace now Masi as race director following last season’s finale
Ben Sulayem has consistently looked to defend Masi and while he has done so once more in revealing his desire to keep the axed race director on, the FIA president does want to draw a line under the events in Abu Dhabi last November.
‘We did, as promised, a thorough investigation and now we have revealed the conclusions,’ he said.
‘Now we want to move on, and that we [are] finished with the race in Abu Dhabi with the analysis.
‘It’s the beginning of the 2022 [championship], with all the new cars and all the excitement. I think we should enjoy it and leave that behind us and make sure we have a good new year.’
Hamilton is desperate to move on from it and refocus onto winning an eighth world title this season.
Verstappen accused the sport’s rulers of throwing Masi under the bus after his dismissal
Asked during the weekend of the Bahrain Grand Prix if he expected an apology in light of the FIA report, Hamilton was dismissive.
Hamilton told reporters: ‘We cannot go back, unfortunately, and change the past so I just look at what I can do now.
‘I wasn’t expecting an apology and it’s not something I’ve focused on.
‘We know that’s the way it is and that was probably not going to happen.
‘But at least there is that transparency, and it’s been called a human error and that’s a positive step.’
[ad_2]
Source link
Have something to say? Leave a comment: