The controversy that dragged on throughout the 2021 Formula 1 season had its outcome at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where Max Verstappen managed to become world champion on the last lap.
The Dutchman took advantage of the safety car caused by Nicholas Latifi’s accident to put on new tires and go for Lewis Hamilton, who until then had everything under control to win his eighth world championship. Initially, race management announced that the lapped cars between the two would not be able to make up the lost lap, but seconds later, it was reported that only some drivers would be able to unlap.
In this way, Max Verstappen was in the wake of the British and ended up taking the championship, although part of the leading role was taken by Michael Masi , the FIA race director.
Masi’s figure has been the one that has been most in doubt since the end of last season, in fact, it is still unknown what will happen to him. Some insinuate that a new system will be imposed in which tasks will be divided, although the use of three different people who will rotate throughout the year is not ruled out.
A few days ago, Peter Bayer , general secretary of sport at the FIA since 2017, gave his opinion on what could happen with the position of race director in Formula 1, and assured that the body supports Masi despite the criticism he has received.
“I assured Michael [Masi] that he had the backing of the federation and let him know that we wanted to continue working with him,” the FIA official said. “There will be a division of the jobs of the race director, who is also the sporting director, safety director and track official.
This last role is the one that takes the most time for Masi, as he has to visit all the circuits to inspect them and make sure they meet all the requirements, as he did with the Jeddah track recently.
The Australian’s predecessor was Charlie Whiting , a highly respected person in the Great Circus and who helped take security to the next level. He was a workaholic, and could manage the multiple functions that had to be carried out, although he did it with a much smaller calendar and that little resembled the current one that will have a historical record of 23 events in the next course.
In the 2022 season, the race director will not be influenced by any team boss, as was the case repeatedly with Toto Wolff and Christian Horner making ‘recommendations’ on how to deal with a possible penalty in 2021. From now on, only one representative of each team may communicate with the race director.
Another thing that will change will be the remote help that the race director will receive, who from now on will no longer have to manage each accident alone, each safety car exit and determine the guilt of a controversial action at the same time.
The option that the FIA is considering is to put three co-directors, that is, someone who sits next to Masi with greater power than the current deputy race director, sharing responsibility for decisions.
If the Australian loses the job of race director and is asked, for example, to focus only on track inspection and safety delegate jobs, who could replace him?
Replacing Masi is a puzzle for the FIA for several reasons. First of all, not all people are qualified to spend 23 weekends with all the travel that that entails, and also because this position is something that exposes you publicly.
The main candidates are people with a lower category profile, so confronting the media in this way could cause them to act conditioned, and in the highest body they are very aware of this. Thus, the possibility of seeing several individuals in charge of decisions jointly takes weight.
Among those with the most options are Eduardo Freitas , GT and WEC race director for more than two decades, and Scot Elkins , who has been a deputy in Formula 1 but is now in Formula E and the DTM . The name of Niels Wittich , a former DTM driver who could replace Michael Masi as Grand Circus race director, also sounds.
Niels Wittich, Race Director
However, these are not the only names on the FIA list, and other lesser known names are being considered within the international body. One of them may be Peter Roberts , linked to Formula 1 for his presence in the Porsche Supercup, although it is not ruled out that none of those mentioned have a co-director role along with Masi.
The FIA has also targeted other more veterans, who could be an ace up the sleeve and would be used as reinforcements, if only as advisers. Herbie Blash , Charlie Whiting’s former assistant, has a lot of experience, but having left Formula 1 in 2016 and being busy with Yamaha, it would be impossible to co-ordinate him with 23 Grand Prix weekends.
Then there’s Colin Haywood , another key member of the team that Charlie Whiting built and who worked for many years as the FIA’s director of race control systems. He also spent time as Masi’s deputy, until he stepped down from his role in early 2021, but remained attached as a consultant.
Will the FIA find someone outside of their trusted group? It is logical to search among those who already know and who were close to the paper that is supposed to be replaced, because they know the functions and the rules that must be applied. But people with cold blood are needed, capable of making decisions in a matter of seconds with total security.
The man doing that job at Ferrari is Laurent Mekies , who was preparing to take over from Whiting back in 2018 after serving as deputy race director for two seasons. However, the Frenchman chose to return to the front line of the Maranello team.
Another name that is not ruled out is that of Steve Nielsen , sporting director of the category and who has the experience of having been director of teams of the stature of Tyrrell, Benetton or Renault in the past, for which many would see him as the ideal solution.
Steve Nielsen
Being a race director is not an easy task, and it is that different areas must be covered, including supervising the writing of the rules. Now, with Ross Brawn leaving the Formula 1 organization at the end of 2022, the workload could be even heavier.
It is speculated that some people from the different teams have been surveyed, but it seems difficult for a current team leader to become part of the FIA for the new season.
The search could extend to those who have parted ways with a club recently, such as Marcin Budkowski , who stepped down from his role as Alpine’s sporting director a few weeks ago.
Marcin Budkowski, former sporting director of the Alpine team in Formula 1
The former French team member worked for the FIA for a while in a technical role, but lacking opportunities for promotion, he returned to be on one of the grid teams in 2017.
Budkowski is available, and would bring an interesting combination of experience and skills, but being accepted by the governing body, the series and all the teams could be difficult. However, the Pole is likely to return taking part of the load of functions that now falls on Masi.
The bottom line is that, be it the Australian or anyone else, being the FIA’s race director in Formula 1 will not be like it was in the days of Charlie Whiting. After the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, more attention will be paid to the decision-making process in the control of the test, and a minimum margin of error will be required.
“When you work for the FIA, you must be aware that you are doing it for the sports police,” warned Bayer about what awaits whoever is chosen.
