Bombshell! Masi is no longer F1 race director

Confirmed what had been talked about for a long time, specifically since last December Max Verstappen was proclaimed champion against Lewis Hamilton at the Yas Marina circuit. That race was decided with controversy, and great pressure from the defeated, their team and their fans, has led to a dismissal .

After that Sunday, the FIA launched an investigation into what happened at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and although this week they reported that they would not announce anything about the conclusions yet, the motorsports governing body has decided to change and install a new structure of race manager.

Michael Masi will no longer continue in his position as race director, although he has been offered another position within the FIA and outside of Formula 1. His announcement coincided in time with the presentation of the new Ferrari F-75 for the 2022 season. .

After the retirement of Herbie Blash the departure of his replacement Laurent Meekies , Charlie Whiting , the eternal F1 race director (almost 30 years in charge) asked Masi in 2018 to be his right-hand man along with the race director of the Formula E, Scott Elkins. In 2019 the Australian was left alone in the position, but had to move to the main position when Whiting died in the run-up to the Australian GP that opened the season.

Who will take Michael Masi’s place as F1 race director?

For the 2022 F1 World Championship, starting with the first pre-season tests to be held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, the FIA will alternate between using WEC race director Eduardo Freitas and former DTM race director Niels Wittich .

The two will alternate as race director, backed by Charlie Whiting’s former deputy, the aforementioned Herbie Blash .

In addition to changing the race director, the FIA will introduce a new virtual race control system and will prohibit direct communications between the teams and the race director, to avoid situations that increase stress and end in controversy as we saw at certain moments of the last year between Mercedes and Red Bull Racing.

That remote assistance will be done from an FIA facility outside the circuit, probably from Geneva (Switzerland), and that will exercise with the VAR system in football.

In addition, the procedure during the safety car will be reviewed so that confusions like the ones we experienced at the end of 2021 are not repeated.

Speaking in a video issued by the FIA, the president, Mohammed ben Sulayem , confirmed that his plan had been approved by F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and team bosses at last Monday’s F1 Commission meeting in London.

“First of all, to help the race director in the decision-making process, a virtual Race Control Room will be created. Like the Video Assistance Referee (VAR) in football, will be located in one of the FIA ​​offices as backup outside the circuit”.

“In real-time connection with the FIA’s race director for F1, he will help enforce the sporting regulations using the latest technological tools.”

“Secondly, direct radio communications during the race, currently broadcast live on all televisions, will be eliminated to protect the race director from any pressure and allow him to make decisions with peace of mind.”

“It will still be possible to ask the race director questions, according to a well-defined and non-intrusive process.”
“Thirdly, the F1 Sporting Advisory Committee will reassess the safety car restart procedures and present them to the next F1 Commission before the start of the season.

Sulayem also referred to Masi: “Michael Masi, who did a very difficult job for three years as F1 race director after Charlie Whiting, will be offered a new position within the FIA.”

“I presented this complete plan to the members of the World Motor Sport Council and the Senate, who gave me their full support.”

“With this plan, the FIA paves the way for a new step forward in F1 refereeing. Without the referees or judges, there is no sport. Respect and support for the judges is the essence of the FIA.”

“This is why these structural changes are crucial in a context of strong development and the legitimate expectations of the drivers, teams, manufacturers, organizers and, of course, the fans.”

Michael Masi in photos

Michael Masi, FIA

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Photo by: Erik Junius

Michael Masi, F1 race director

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Photo by: Simon Galloway/Motorsport Images

Michael Masi, F1 race director, tours the Jeddah circuit

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Photo by: Simon Galloway/Motorsport Images

Michael Masi, F1 race director, tours the Jeddah circuit with a colleague from the FIA

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Photo by: Simon Galloway/Motorsport Images

Michael Masi, F1 race director, tours the Jeddah circuit with a colleague from the FIA

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Michael Masi, F1 race director, tours the Jeddah circuit with a colleague from the FIA

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Michael Masi, F1 race director, tours the Jeddah circuit with a colleague from the FIA

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Michael Masi, F1 race director, tours the Jeddah circuit with a colleague from the FIA

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Michael Masi arrives at Losail Circuit

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Michael Masi, race director, walks the track

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Michael Masi, race director, tours the Losail circuit

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Photo by: Charles Coates/Motorsport Images

Michael Masi, race director, and Stefano Domenicali, general manager of Formula 1

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Photo By: Andy Hone/Motorsport Images

Michael Masi, Race Director

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Photo by: Charles Coates/Motorsport Images

Stefano Domenicali, Formula 1 CEO, and Michael Masi, FIA Race Director, on the starting grid

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Michael Masi, Race Director

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Photo by: Jerry Andre / Motorsport Images

Michael Masi, FIA Race Director, with Mario Isola, Pirelli Motorsport Race Director, on the starting grid

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Michael Masi, Race Director.

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Photo by: LAT Images

Michael Masi, Race Director, FIA, with Bernd Maylander, Safety Car Driver, FIA

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Bernd Maylander, Safety Car Driver, and the Safety Car on the grid with Michael Masi, FIA Race Director

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

FIA President Jean Todt and Race Director Michael Masi on the starting grid

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Andreas Seidl Team Principal, McLaren F1 with F1 Race Director Michael Masi

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Photo by: Charles Coates/Motorsport Images

Andreas Seidl Team Principal, McLaren F1 with F1 Race Director Michael Masi

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Photo by: Charles Coates/Motorsport Images

Michael Masi, Race Director

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Photo by: Zak Mauger/Motorsport Images

Michael Masi, Race Director, and Bernd Maylander, Safety Car

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Photo by: Charles Coates/Motorsport Images

Michael Masi, Race Director, and Bernd Maylander, Safety Car

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Photo by: Charles Coates/Motorsport Images

Michael Masi, race director, walks the track with FIA delegates

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Photo by: Jerry Andre / Motorsport Images

Michael Masi, race director and members of the FIA tour the track

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Photo by: Jerry Andre / Motorsport Images

Michael Masi, FIA Race Director

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Michael Masi, FIA Race Director

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Michael Masi, FIA Race Director

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Michael Masi, race director inspecting the track

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Michael Masi, race director inspecting the track

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

FIA Race Director Michael Masi and Safety Car Driver Bernd Maylander on the grid at the FIA Road Safety Campaign

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Michael Masi, Race Director

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Foto de: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Michael Masi, Race Director

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Foto de: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Michael Masi, Race Director

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Foto de: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Charlotte Sine, girlfriend of Charles Leclerc, arrives at the circuit with Fabrizio Bortolamasi, from Ferrari

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Charlotte Sine, girlfriend of Charles Leclerc, arrives at the circuit with Fabrizio Bortolamasi, from Ferrari

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Charlotte Sine, girlfriend of Charles Leclerc, arrives at the circuit with Fabrizio Bortolamasi, from Ferrari

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Mark Donohue, Penske Racing Cars March 751, was in a massive crash after a tire failure at Hella Licht corner during practice

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Photo by: David Phipps

Tom Wood, FIA Media Delegate, Michael Masi, FIA Racing Director, on the grid

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Michael Masi, Race Director

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Photo by: Charles Coates/Motorsport Images

Michael Masi, Race Director

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Photo by: Zak Mauger/Motorsport Images

Michael Masi, Race Director, with Pietro Fittipaldi, Haas F1

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Photo By: Andy Hone/Motorsport Images

Pietro Fittipaldi, Haas F1, talks to Michael Masi, Race Director

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Photo By: Andy Hone/Motorsport Images

Romain Grosjean, Haas F1 meets Michael Masi, Race Director

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Photo By: Andy Hone/Motorsport Images

Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and Michael Masi, FIA Race Director

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Michael Masi, Race Director, on the grid

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

FIA Race Director Michael Masi attends the crash scene of Romain Grosjean, Haas VF-20, on lap one

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

FIA Race Director Michael Masi attends the crash scene of Romain Grosjean, Haas VF-20, on lap one

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images