Masi gets unexpected support: 'FIA didn't have to replace him'

12:35, 06 Mar 2022
8 Comments

Damon Hill believes that Michael Masi did not need to be removed from his position as race director. According to the former Formula One driver, the FIA could have achieved the desired effect by making changes to the way the race management is carried out.

In the aftermath of his resignation as race director at the FIA, Masi can count on the necessary expressions of support. Max Verstappen, for example, called the FIA's decision 'unfair' and stated that the organization had made it under pressure. He also said that he had contacted the Australian, who appreciated the gesture.

Masi can count on support after FIA decision

Hill, who criticized the handling of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, believes that the FIA could have handled it better. He therefore questions whether Masi really should have been sacrificed.

"I feel sorry for the man," he says in the F1 Nation podcast. He stresses that several drivers have said that he did a good job under difficult circumstances. According to him, the problem does not lie with Masi, but with the structure of the race management and the way he was expected to work.

According to Hill, a tightening of the regulations might have been enough to quell the controversy. "I think during the season we could clearly see that there was confusion in decision making and pressure from some of the team bosses," the 1996 world champion observes. "If they fix that, I'm not sure they had to fire Michael."

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8 Comments
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Ringo 07 March 2022 at 06:08+ 1255

You see, the maFIA can't really fire themselves you know? They had to have a scape goat and that was Masi. I don't understand why Jean T was left out of this as well. We shouldn't forget the secret deal with Ferarri for cheating and Masi controversy all under his watch. What we witnessed was shocking, we desevered a better decision regarding the safety car and we didnt get it. Whether this is a Masi problem or FIA or team managers screaming instructions, we should never have this again. Personally with Masi gone, I don't believe things will get better even with the new president on board. F1 now needs a different injection into their sport to renew trust, fair competition and increase viewership. If Lewis did decided to leave the damage would have been colossal not that one man can have that much influence but the post would be branded as farce and represent worse form of racing.

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Apex Zulu 07 March 2022 at 02:23+ 2266

Masi and his pal's pockets got fat off of his direct intervention to allow Verstappen winning. Masi can end up barefoot in the streets for all I care. Knowing that Verstappen now has an asterisk next to his championship and Masi has been disgraced is not enough, but it'll do for now. Let's get the season going. Maybe he'll be reassigned as a garbage man? Masi's performances as a race director were comparable to garbage anyway. Long live Charlie Whiting.

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Stevesyd 06 March 2022 at 14:43+ 36119

Where did the FIA state he was sacked over Abu Dhabi? Anyone have a copy of the report? Its only the sore loser Hamilton fan club that are promoting that as a diversion the humiliation Max served up on him in turn 5 to become World Champion.

Rob01 06 March 2022 at 14:58+ 6151

Are you really that thick? Max's gift weighs very heavy on your mind.

Blackewater 06 March 2022 at 14:29+ 712

You can talk all the crap you qwnar Damon Masi isba deamon in living colour will get no sympathy from me he a nusciance !!

1984 Orwell 06 March 2022 at 13:58+ 1247

He is no longer Race Director and that is all that matters and good riddance. He was never going to change.

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Scissmmm 06 March 2022 at 12:54+ 18252

Wasn't Hill one of those britons screaming that Masi should be replaced during the winterbreak?

Verstappen_is_king 07 March 2022 at 05:52+ 9233

Hopefully they replace sky sports in f1, it's to bias, and they talk so much rubbish,