Michael Masi has been axed as F1 Race Director following his controversial handling of the closing laps of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Following a late Safety Car after Nicholas Latifi suffered a race-ending crash, Masi breached F1 regulations by allowing only five lapped cars in-between race leader, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen to unlap themselves on Lap 57.
He then instructed the Safety Car to pit at the end of that very same lap in another breach of regulations, which led Verstappen who had pitted for soft tyres to make a last-lap overtake on Hamilton to clinch his maiden title and deny the Brit a record eighth F1 crown.
Mercedes’ initial appeals were then rejected before they chose to drop a further appeal days later which left the F1 paddock, media and fans bitterly divided over whether F1 is now corrupt and an entertainment sport or a serious sporting competition.
FIA President, Jean Todt then departed at end of 2021 which led to newly-elected FIA President, Mohamed Ben Sulayem to order an investigation, which has led to Masi being axed from his role but he will be offered a new position within the FIA.
A new race management team will therefore take charge from the first pre-season test in Barcelona between 23-25 February, in which Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas will rotate positions as Race Director, with Herbie Blash returning as a Permanent Senior Advisor.
Sulayem also announced that a Virtual Race Control Room will be created in one of the FIA Offices outside of the circuit, whilst maintaining ‘real-time connection with the FIA F1 race director,’ in order to apply sporting regulations in a modern manner.
Direct radio communications between teams and race director will also be banned as of this season in order to avoid unfair application of pressure on the race director, in turn enabling decisions to be taken peacefully.
Teams can still field questions to the race director if done in ‘a well-defined and non-intrusive process.’
F1 Sporting Advisory Committee will also review unlapping procedures with findings to be presented next month at the next F1 Commission ahead of the new season.
Sulayem has also confirmed that the World Motor Sport Council has backed these new decisions but hopes that this plan will pave the way for an evolution in ‘Formula 1 refereeing’, whilst iterating that ‘Respect and support of the referees is in the essence of the FIA.’
This decision comes after F1 earlier today (17 February) announced growth in Digital and TV audiences across 2021 season.
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