Everyone wants HIS dismissal – now he suddenly gets backing. Hamilton fans, Mercedes, Toto Wolff – they all had one wish after last season: the dismissal of Michael Masi as Formula 1 race director. The Australian had gambled away his sympathies from those particular demographics.
While the FIA is currently analysing what happened at the Abu Dhabi GP, Masi’s chair in Formula 1 seems to be wobbling more than ever. But now he has the backing of an expert.
Formula 1: Masi just a pawn?
The stewards’ interpretation of the rules last year was too opaque and inconsistent over the season. Further, Masi seemed overwhelmed, especially in discussions with the team bosses, who were constantly talking at him during the races. As much as it was pure entertainment for the fans watching on TV, Liberty Media had seriously looked into not including that element next season, but loathe to give up a form of entertainment, new methods came to light.
There is even said to have been a secret agreement between Mercedes and the FIA and the world governing body for motor sport, to which Masi must vacate his post if you’re to believe certain Hamcentric tabloids in the UK. But there are also dissenting voices who say that sacking the 44-year-old would not solve the core problem.
An ex-Formula 1 driver stands by Masi’s side One is a former racing driver and current TV pundit Martin Brundle.
“What I know with absolute certainty is that a change of Michael Masi will not solve the problem,” he tells British “Sky”.
According to him, managing 23 races a year is too much for one person. “It’s far too big a task,” Brundle said.
“Should Masi actually remain in office in the end, he would need a lot of support.”
Brundle refers to Masi’s predecessor Charlie Whiting, who always had an assistant at his side in Herbie Blash.
“I suspect that’s what they’re looking at at the moment,” says the 158-time Grand Prix participant, referring to possible help for Masi. Besides, there is no suitable replacement for him at the moment anyway
He should stay
Masi has lost all credibility, he should be fired if FIA wants to stay viable.
I had never in my life saw such a circus, fire Hamilton. He is to arrogant. He is not the only one that gets the short end of the stick. It’s pathetic. It’s such a shame for the sports.
He is far from arrogant….
And
He has a legitimate argument….
Madi was a complete xxxhole and should be at the very least publically humiliated just has Hamilton was…….
He made some serious mistakes….and just like jocovitch, should be fined and sent home….
agree does one man him Hamilton now run f1
He should stay, the whole year when he gave decisions in favor or the cheats he was the best. Suddenly when he did his job correctly he is a cheat???
Correct
If Massi stays F1 will loose all credibility
I don’t agree as this goes far deeper than those front men of the FIA and team principles
He should stay given him more power, he’s done excellent job, Hamelton should drop his position to Verstapen first lap, massi gave him chance by not invistigate the situation
What? Verstappen pushed him out of the track. The two would have crashed If hamilton didnt leave the track. Verstappen did that idiotic move so many times already and always expect others to back off because its called hard racing? And all double move he did which caused accidents? This kid show no respect to others just like his father
He should 100% go. He’s a muppet. Controlled by red bull. Should be ashamed.
100% agree, he is a light weight!!
Masi stays. Statpaddington and his overly attached girlfriend will have to suck it up. Not a problem for Honey Boo Boo. He kneels every race weekend.
All this would be irrelevant if LH had pitted for fresh tyres, sure he would have lost track position but if he was behind Verstappen at the restart he could have easily outdragged, out witted and overtaken verstappen on the last lap and won the championship.
Mercedes made a tactical error by informing Lewis they would have lost rack position leaving him out. This was the wrong decision and it cost Lewis the championship. Sure its with the benefit of hindsight.
But at the time Lewis should have pitted for fresh tyres becasue Verstappen pitted All they had to do was follow what verstappen did in this race, MB knew this was a mistake but have never mentioned it – they must have realised thats a car behind on brand new tyres was at a massive advantage and their driver could do nothing about it.
I’ve followed F1 since.the late 60s
and have learned that luck plays a major part.in the outcome.of races, If Verstappen hadn’t pitted for fresh tyres he would not have won the race.
LH and MV on the same tyres on the last lap, LH had the faster car on the day.
What complete and utter sense Phillip. I’m shocked really given the utter nonsense talked here by I guess Lewis devotees. Mercedes strategy was not their strongest element of the 2021 campaign in a number of races.
Why hasn’t Bono actually admitted (with hindsight) it was the biggest error of the season considering what was at stake. They should have realised that MV in fresh tyres left their driver disadvantaged. When LH questioned the decision to leave him out and to be told he would lose track position changed the outcome of the race I quote on lap 54 ” conversation with Bono and Lewis
Lewis “what’s the situation behind me ?”
Bono ” So the situation is MV has pitted -he had a free pitstop- We would have lost track position to him. So the this field has to bunch and then they’ll have to send the lapped cars through, so it may not restart”
LH “Ah is he right behind me ?”
Bono “He will be once there sorted out all the order, this is going to take a while to sort out ”
LH ” With new tyres?”
Bono “Copy Lewis we would gave lost track position if we had pitted”
That to my mind is what cost LH the championship.
MB are keeping quiet about all this and going on the Masi attack ! For sure it was an unusual.set.of circumstances but with a combination of this and the wise choice to pit MV it changes everything. Luck plays a part in any sport and it was certainly on MV side at Abu Dhabi.
Keep politics out of sport ! Some rules need to be changed I agree e.g. A red flag cars pit, no work or tyre changes can take place the restart as the pitted with out any changes to the car. No fresh tyres no body parts changed. If the wing is hanging off then the car is retired- makes it fair for everyone !
Phillip if you actually read and understand the rules you will see that the argument you are posing wrt to Bono pitting LH is irrelevant. This is not blind devotion. It’s simple English. The only time the notion of interpretation
of those rules will be accepted is if the correct application of those rules is inconvenient and does not serve sheer desires or preferences of a minority group. A minority group who cannot accept LH’s record to of 8 titles to manifest. During this time Jean Todt a very close friend of Micheal Schumacher who is also the FIA president, could possibly be telling Masi what WILL happen. Masi did that shit knowing he had the backing of the big boys/powers that be. I suspect Masi was persuaded by the powers that be after stammering with Horner over the radio. People will do what they need to do to ensure they protect the interests of this minority group. For MV to win the rules had to be bent/flouted, Masi had to act out of what is normal and can be expected (precedent) from a safety car event. Hence the comment from Bono “ this is going to take a while to sort out ” it’s quite clear that without the unique intervention from Masi that race would have finished under safety car there would be a different champion. But apparently gifting an talented, abrasive undeserving (wet behind the ears) entitled 24yr old a championship is possible through the FIA rules. If you accept this way of doing things, you are part of what’s wrong with this fucking world.
I agree to some of the points that you have made like to remind you that F1 is bigger than any of is and with the new owners who loves drama then we will not see fair racing much longer as they are all in it as Lewis is what holding them back by being champion which is not fun anymore and brings in very little cash for the new owners who wanted a change at the top and new followers from the Netherlands and beyond also new sponsorship deals plus Netflix….I rest my case
I particularly agree that the rules need change but the FIA decided who wins that isn’t sport that’s Hollywood TV just to get ratings
Lewis Hamilton fans who paid to watch the sport was also robbed is the FIA going to give us free tickets or subscriptions so why would anybody want to pay it’s a absolute joke and Bernie ecclestone i would love to punch him put him on his back just so I can shit out his dentures
Poster jack has nailed this on so many levels. Verstappens championship win has the same credibility as a Platini and Blatter world Cup bid.
There are rules of engagement for all competitions. Masi Verstappen RBR was so desperate to beat the GOAT Ham that they took whatever loot they could from the crooked Latifi and Masi. This is not just mere theatrics but daylight robbery….before the watching eyes of the whole world
Phillip if you actually read and understand the rules you will see that the argument you are posing wrt to Bono pitting LH is irrelevant. This is not blind devotion. It’s simple English. The only time the notion of interpretation
of those rules will be accepted is if the correct application of those rules is inconvenient and does not serve sheer desires or preferences of a minority group. A minority group who cannot accept LH’s record to of 8 titles to manifest. During this time Jean Todt a very close friend of Micheal Schumacher who is also the FIA president, could possibly be telling Masi what WILL happen. Masi did what he did knowing he had the backing of the big boys/powers that be. I suspect Masi was persuaded by the powers that be after stammering with Horner over the radio. People will do what they need to do to ensure they protect the interests of this minority group. For MV to win the rules had to be bent/flouted, Masi had to act out of what is normal and can be expected (precedent) from a safety car event. Hence the comment from Bono “ this is going to take a while to sort out ” it’s quite clear that without the unique intervention from Masi that race would have finished under safety car there would be a different champion. But apparently gifting an talented, abrasive undeserving (wet behind the ears) entitled 24yr old a championship is possible through the FIA rules.
Take you point.
But take the politics and unsubstantiated rhetoric and conspiracies out of this and look at what happened on the race track.
LH should have pitted, had he done so he would be world champion. no matter how good you are as a driver, if the life of your tyres is over you are a sitting duck. There are bound to be people who are upset at the result and there are bound to be recriminative theories behind the decision making on those last five laps after Nicholas Latifi spun out, This incident is what ultimately cost LH the World Championship. I saw the look on Toto’s face as soon as the news came through, Toto knew this wasn’t going to end well.
I bear no grudges or point suspicious fingers at anybody because I’m looking at this purely subjectively on the race track and who made the right decisions given the set of circumstances that existed straight after the Williams went off. You couldn’t possibly stage manage this result.
You may well be a LH fan and i share with you the grief suffered by all over the devastating outcome.
As mentions I’ve been around F1 since the days of Jockhen Rint whom i met on several occasion when he was an F2 driver, also Graham Hill Jochen Mass, James Hunt, Jacki Ickx, Jacki Stewart and many more legends of the late 60s and 70s
I was lucky enough to get pit passes for the British GP when it was held at Brands Hatch.
Those were the days!
But still even if Lewis Hamilton did stop for fresh tyres the rules was still broken having only allowing the cars between Lewis and max to unlap them selves rules state if cars are allowed to unlap them selves then it’s all cars not just those five it’s a absolute joke and for what TV ratings this isn’t motor sport this Hollywood TV
Take Michael masi out he isn’t fit for purpose
Yes i still pissed there’s only one question i have for Michael who is going to win the 2022 championship i want to get my bet on nice and early ££££££
Thank you. I agree with you. At last somebody with brains
If hthey had pitted they would have lost position, especially as they didn’t know how long the sc was going to last. Quite simple really, usually it’s the newbies that come out with that tosh phol, I’m surprised at you
You said and i quote, Mercedes made a tactical error by informing Lewis they would have lost rack position leaving him out. This was the wrong decision and it cost Lewis the championship. Sure its with the benefit of hindsight. Mercedes knows the rules just like the rest of the grid & know that lapped cars cannot be unlapped(ALL CARS) before safety car can leave the track & race continues, and in rhis case the race wiuld be OVER. Even if he unlaps ALL the cars & safety car leaves when rhis happens, the race is OVER Masi xhanged rge rules akready in place, UNLAPPED 5 of the 7 lapped cars & safety car exited before normal exit with Vestarpen now directly behind Hamilton with fresh tyres all provided ny Masi’s sudden change of rules. HOW CAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BE WON LIKE THIS. TOTAL DISRESPECT OR DRIVERS AND SOECTATORS WORLD WIDE MASI MUST GO.
Well said, Philip.
I’ve been saying exactly that all along! You could clearly hear Lewis question the strategy of leaving him out there. Mercedes took the view that the strategists knew better than a seven times world champion. Toto keeps telling us what an incredible driver Lewis is so why didn’t the team respect his expertise and knowledge of actually driving an F1 car and winning 100+ grand prix.
Of course, because they’re so outraged by Verstappen stealing the championship from Lewis then, had they pitted Lewis for fresh tyres and come out behind Max they would have then instructed Lewis NOT to overtake Max because they would then have been guilty of exactly what they’ve accused Max of!
Now wouldn’t that have been some final.lap.
“Lewis, this is Toto, DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT OVERTAKE VERSTAPPEN! WE WOULD BE STEALING THE CHAMPIONSHIP FROM HIM! THAT WOULD BE WRONG AND OUTRAGEOUS! DO NOT DO IT!”
I remember when Stirling Moss could have been F1 World Champion in 1958 when Mike Hawthorn faced a penalty after the Portugese Grand Prix. All Moss had to do was stay silent and mind his own business. Instead he defended Hawthorn to the stewards and Hawthorn kept his second place and ended up beating Moss to the title by one point! Did Moss say Hawthorn should have held back on the last race because he owed Moss? No! Did Hawthorn think, I can’t win the championship by one point from Moss because he intervened at Portugal? No! They got on with it.
Had Mercedes pitted Lewis, AS LEWIS REPEATEDLY WANTED!, then they would have been prepared for just such an eventuality. Could it be that behind all of Toto’s bravado and posturing is the fact that Lewis is seriously pissed with Mercedes for not pitting him and leaving him a walking dead man on the last lap?
This has been the most controversial sporting decision and the most blatantly manipulated with rules broken to allow for a different ending to any sports event!
Hamilton was robbed, we were all robbed.
Masi has to go, this is about sport not ‘rigged entertainment’
#F1xed
#MasiOUT
#JusticeForLewis
#Lewis8xWDC
#WeStandWithLewisHamilton
the only person should go is cry baby Hamilton the worst champion in f1 history
He hasn’t got anyone’s backing, Brindle is stating the blindingly obvious.
Verstappen won because, not for the first time Wolff dithered! HE is the culprit who should resign as for Hamilton, he should restore his toys in the pram and exit!
Well said J Edwin White
You should shut the fuck up j Edwin white go get back on your mummy’s nipples you big puff
you wanker
Probably the worst title and content I’ve ever read. It’s a recycled story based on when Martin Brundel said I don’t think just sacking Masi will solve the problem. You can make up what you want from that but in no way is it backing. It’s a shit story.
There is always some else! What of Masi is unable to attend a race for some unknown reason…are the FIA going to cancel a race weekend? Of course not !
ENOUGH…. Over 1 month and the fanboys are still crying over something that’s not FIA’s or Masi’s fault.
1-MB chose the wrong strategy by going with a single pit stop.
2-If HAM is really the GOAT, why he couldn’t defend ONE SINGLE LAP as PER did (with worst tyres)?
3-I see no fanboy complaining about the many, MANY times Masi’s decisions favoured HAM throughout the season.
COME ON. GET OVER IT.
F1superfan with his max blinkers on
Tell that to me fans who still whine about Silverstone 🤣🤣🤣
If we are talking about fairness and rules, then the race should have ended under a safety car and give hamilton 5 sec penalty for cutting the corner in the 1st lap.
Of course, people are subjective and have different opinions, but that’s another discussion. Getting Masi sacked will not solve opinion differences between people. Great season with a great ending!
What core problem? He specifically Masi, implemented half a rule, made up his own rules, so broke the rules, all you have to do is know the rules and implement them and off the top of my head Nigel Mansell could replace him, Brundle is talking bollocks
The rules must be understood in general by the F1 fan community and in particular by the racers, don’t seem forced to win 1 driver and oppress others, especially in games that are enjoyed by the entire world community, the committee must be really wise in applying the rules
On the expense of Hamilton title.
It just goes to show Martin Brindle is no “expert” and I get the feeling he is anti Lewis Hamilton!
All this is to take away some of the heat currently on the championship or should I say fixed championship
Now hear me out on this as I know a great deal of you max fans out there are happy that he is the new champion but I am sure you won’t of agreed to this type of winning….which is not what a champion would wish for nevertheless it happened.
I started in several blogs that this race was a fix also stated that max was the next best thing but he was beaten in that last race.
Also noted that Lewis winning his 8th championship was not going to be good for the sport based on the commercial success of the sport which in simple terms…money
Support Masi you Want or Not.
I don’t believe we should be setting a precedent where Any Teams, Owners, Team principals or Drivers should be putting in Demands / Ultimatums to fire employees of the FIA.
If Mercedes , Toto and Lewis actually get there demand met.
Unfortunately all this will do is show the weakness inside the FIA , where they don’t back their own people and decisions. While at the same time saying Masi did nothing wrong.
Worse part if this is allowed to happen even just once you have now legally opened to door to this happen at anytime in the future with any and every team. All being able to to demand for people to be fired or else. Or even come up with their own style of demands.
More so if Masi is let go because of the demands from the Mercedes team and the FIA back Mercedes on this decision. Do you not believe how all other teams are going to view this as favoritism to Mercedes since that has already been a main discussion for like the past 7 or so. All the years when Mercedes has been nothing but dominant.
During those years other teams didn’t feel they had justice in an unfair system and felt favoritism towards Mercedes.
Now Mercedes had a loss just 1 loss only for their Driver Hamilton and are making demands that people who did their job to the best of their abilities in an unprecedented situation be removed . All because Hamilton did not win. They won the Constructors but that’s not good enough this is about one Driver making demands and his Team Principal giving full backing.
If FIA falls for these demands they will have lost all credibility in the future.
If this does happen and Masi plus other parties involved from the FIA are removed. In the future races/ and title winning races other teams will now be allowed to do the exact same thing making these types of demands.
As the precedent is set.
Their defense will be citing the same case Mercedes vs. FIA 2021.
When those teams get turned down by the FIA …… they will be calling out why was it ok for Mercedes and not their teams. As the precedent has be set in play.
For no other team will be able to make such demands and the FIA fallow through on their demands
FIA and Teams should be kept separate. If teams don’t like it I’m sure many others people would love to replace them.
Most important you don’t want to set a situation like this in play by a threat that is basically on the verge of blackmail ( if you don’t do ( X ) , then we are going to do ( Y ) in response.
If the FIA doesn’t give me this then Lewis will retire etc.
No Driver should ever feel they have those powers to give the FIA ultimatums or have their employees fired. No Driver should ever feel he owns the whole Team and the Team Principal. They have put the whole reputation of Mercedes in the Hands of Hamilton who’s really a contract employee.
Toto and Lewis have both been an embarrassment to the Mercedes name is how they handle this whole situation.
When did Lewis Hamilton demand Masi was fired, he’s not spoken to anybody from the FIA has he.
It;s well documented that Mercedes, withdrew their protest on the understanding that the FIA investigated the whole sorry episode, so it looks like another made up load of recycled crap.