While Michael Masi has yet to talk publically about the 2021 Formula 1 season finale in Abu Dhabi, triggering the debate: Was he axed from the role of FIA Race Director or did he simply quit on his own accord?
For way too long, too much has been scribbled about December's controversial Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, last year's season finale has gobbled up headlines incessantly, negatively impacting on the build-up to the 2022 F1 season, one of the most important and exciting seasons in F1 history.
Perhaps in an effort to put a full stop to the old chapter and start a new one, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem announced a comprehensive revamping and restructuring of F1 race direction and race control.
As a result, Eduardo Freitas (WEC Race Director ) and Niels Wittich (DTM Race Director) will share the F1 Race Director role in 2022; armed with extra state-of-the-art tools to do the job more effectively as well as Charlie Whiting's loyal lieutenant and F1 uber-veteran Herbie Blash in their corner.
This of course means Masi (who will be looked after with a position in the FIA) is no longer in the hot-seat during Grand Prix weekends, prompting the obvious question:
Was Masi pushed or did he walk?
There have been rumours suggesting Masi was the sacrificial pawn in a supposed agreement between Whoever-1 and Whoever-2 to ensure Lewis Hamilton does not quit the sport and to pacify Mercedes (who still feel robbed of the title) thanks to bad decisions made by the Australian 'F1 referee' on the night that Max Verstappen became an F1 World Champion at the expense of Hamilton.
But at the launch of the W13 on Friday, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff rubbished the idea that Masi's removal was instigated by he or his team, while a source close to the FIA claimed that no way under the new Ben Sulayem would such a deal be countenanced, in fact, it would be scorned upon.
Nevertheless, Marc Surer suggests that it was indeed pressure applied on the FIA made Masi the scapegoat: “I think it was an overreaction of the FIA to get rid of Masi because overall over the whole season and over the last years he did not do a bad job.
“So, why replace Masi? It was because of the pressure from the outside and not because he did a bad job. He made maybe some bad decisions, yes, but not a bad job,” ventured Surer, the Swiss a former F1 driver turned pundit.
Lammers: Masi may well have said he has had enough of being F1 Race Director
Dutch Grand Prix boss and former F1 driver Jan Lammers has a different theory: "They're now dramatising the story, where it looks like Masi has been victimized.
"I think it goes way beyond that when you see how it's fleshed out now. Michael may well have said he has had enough of the job. It's now a completely different structure, and Masi is not assigned to that new structure. I don't want to speculate about the underlying reason."
But Lammers sees the positives in the new FIA race control plans: "They've concluded that the crucial decisions should not be left to one man. Hence, from now on it will be done from a much wider panel which I think is the netter structure.
"I think anything that contributes to clarity and ensures that things are no longer open to interpretation is a good thing. We have to see how that is experienced by the drivers in practice. How this will ultimately turn out is an issue of course," predicted Lammers.
Binotto: I’m looking for full independence of the FIA in the decision-making process
Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto had the luxury that F1 fans had, watching rival teams Mercedes and Red Bull throw everything at each other throughout 2021, with the final Grand Prix the 'Perfect Storm' for the chaos on the night at Yas Marina and the furore that has since erupted.
Binotto said: “What happened in Abu Dhabi has been over-discussed, and over-analysed for months and weeks. I think the fact that it took so long is showing as well the complexity of the matter."
As for the new Race Directors, the Ferrari boss added: “Honestly, I think we can only improve. And if there is any lesson learned, I think that changes were required and decided for. We will support it,” he affirmed.
“I think what is important, and that is really what I’m looking for, is full independence of the FIA in the decisions. I think that’s the way it has to be in the decisions and the way that they’re structuring themselves.
“I think that in order to have full independence, you need trust and as Ferrari we fully trust them," affirmed the Ferrari boss.
The Swiss believes that Blash, who shadowed Whiting for almost half a century, as Brabham teammates in the seventies and eighties, thereafter when the pair 'owned' F1 race control for two decades or so, until Charlie passed away in 2019.
Surer: To hear that Herbie Blash is back is the best news
“The good thing is they re-organised the management and I am very, very happy that Herbie Blash is back,” affirmed Surer.
“We should not forget that with Charlie Whiting, he always praised him for his good decisions, but a lot of the time there was always Herbie Blash alongside him. So to hear that he is back is the best news.”
Ben Sulayem confirmed that Masi would be assigned a different role within the F1 governing body, but no indication about the actual position the former Aussie V8 Supercars Race Director will take up, or even if he has agreed to the demotion.
Notably, no driver has slammed Masi, quite the contrary with those who have spoken about the Aussie, praising his handling of the role.
Sebastian Vettel had praise for the underfire Race Director, echoing most of his peers on the grid, when he told reporters during the Aston Martin team’s 2022 car launch last week: “It’s not the easiest sometimes to be in the shoes of the referee or Michael’s shoes. But I think he’s done a great job especially filling in after Charlie passed away so suddenly…”
Masi has support from F1 drivers who believe he did a good job but was overwhelmed by lack of support
Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz also weighed in on the subject during the launch of the team's 2022 F1 challenger on Friday: "I personally would like to wish Michael all the best in his new role.
“I’m sure he will be given a lot of responsibilities because we, as drivers, and for me at least I trust him in whatever he’s done lately and he’s done for the benefit of F1.
“I also welcome the new race directors and I’m sure they will have a very difficult task to complete. We saw the last few years in F1, it is a very difficult role, especially filling in the shoes of the late Charlie you know, that we all definitely miss," added the Spaniard.
During the McLaren launch last week, Lando Norris also backed Masi: “I support Michael. As a driver, the obvious thing we all want is consistency and when things are inconsistent like we saw in Abu Dhabi, that is when people get annoyed and frustrated.
“A lot of the things Michael has done in the past season or two have been great. It is just about ironing out these small things that can have a big impact, which is not something we want," added Norris.
Ricciardo was on the same page as his teammate: “Potentially Michael needs a bit more support and especially now with a growing calendar. We’re also human and you go through fatigue and Michael is not just rocking up on a Sunday, being part of the race and then going back home.
"He’s going to every track before, checking out also for other things whether it’s safety or whatever. So his schedule is nuts,” explained Ricciardo.
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