Michael Masi

2022 - 2 - 17

mercedes f1

Post cover — Image courtesy of "The Checkered Flag"

F1 Race Director Michael Masi replaced as race control undergoes ... (The Checkered Flag)

The removal of Michael Masi from the position of F1 Race Director was announced today, as revisions are made to race control.

In real-time connection with the FIA F1 race director, it will help to apply the sporting regulations using the most modern technological tools.” According to Formula1.com, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said it will assist the race directors by implementing technology to enforce sporting rules and regulations. Filling the role of Race Director will be Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas, who will alternate throughout the season.

Masi removed as F1 race director (BBC Sport)

Michael Masi is removed as F1 race director as part of a restructure at governing body the FIA in the wake of last year's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

F1 drops race director Michael Masi after contentious season finale ... (Irvine Times)

The news was confirmed by FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem two months and five days after last campaign's contentious season finale in Abu Dhabi.

He had a difficult job, especially in Abu Dhabi. Verstappen won and claimed his maiden title. Masi, who is set to be offered a new position within the FIA, will be replaced by Eduardo Freitas and Niels Wittich.

Lewis Hamilton warned Max Verstappen will be fired up with ... (Mirror.co.uk)

On top of defending his maiden F1 crown, Verstappen has now been given an added incentive to beat Lewis Hamilton again in the upcoming season.

Max was always going to be a good driver and it's whether he can keep building on the natural ability he has." Button went on to say he believes Verstappen is "the fastest, most gifted driver" on the grid, though he added that he has a long way to go before his achievements can be compared to those of his current main rival. Now that the Australian has been relieved of his role by the FIA, Verstappen has the chance in the coming season to prove that he can repeat the trick without benefitting from a contentious call.

Masi may one day return as Formula 1 race director (PlanetF1)

Without admitting mistakes had been made, FIA president Mohammed bin Sulayem said two new race directors would replace Masi on a rotational basis, that they ...

“But in the short term, we will have new race directors alternating in the position and the FIA have also promised clearer, more predictable rules in terms of how the Safety Car operates, particularly at the end of grands prix.” But as Masi is still relatively young, having been pitched in at the deep end following the sudden death of Charlie Whiting just as the 2019 season was about to begin in Australia, could there still be a chance he will again be race director in the future? Without admitting mistakes had been made, FIA president Mohammed bin Sulayem said two new race directors would replace Masi on a rotational basis, that they will be backed up by a remote officiating system similar to football’s VAR and that Safety Car procedures in regard to lapped cars will be re-assessed.

Michael Masi replaced as F1 race director after FIA review of 2021 ... (Sky Sports)

Michael Masi has been replaced as F1 race director following a review into last year's Abu Dhabi GP, the FIA has confirmed.

Secondly, direct radio communications during the race, currently broadcast live by all TVs, will be removed in order to protect the race director from any pressure and allow him to take decisions peacefully. In real-time connection with the FIA F1 race director, it will help to apply the sporting regulations using the most modern technological tools. With this plan, FIA opens the way for a new step forward in Formula 1 refereeing. At Ferrari we support the decision of its new chairman and the entire FIA, and we will continue to collaborate to improve the future for our racing." We need to trust the FIA for its independence and its capacity to take the right decision to move forward. Both Mercedes and Hamilton were said to be "disillusioned" with F1 following the events of Abu Dhabi but Masi's exit may well go some way to healing that relationship. "They [Wittich and Freitas] have got a tough job. Alike the Video Assistance Referee (VAR) in football, it will be positioned in one of the FIA Offices as a backup outside the circuit. "It was not an obvious situation and a difficult decision to take. Firstly, to assist the race director in the decision-making process, a Virtual Race Control Room will be created. "It's very difficult to say everything was wrong, any mistakes or not. Certainly when you're taking such a decision, you're under a lot of pressure in the heat of the action, the pressure is very, very high and the communications from teams to race director certainly doesn't help.