FIA insist NO decision has been made on whether to sack Michael Masi despite Mercedes’ push for under-pressure race director’s dismissal after Abu Dhabi farce as Lewis Hamilton’s F1 career hangs in the balance
- An investigation is ongoing into the controversial ending of the Abu Dhabi GP
- Michael Masi has been heavily criticised and his position is under threat
- The FIA have dismissed reports that the race director will lose his job
- Lewis Hamilton’s future is still uncertain after losing out to Max Verstappen
The FIA have insisted that no decision has been made on whether to sack Michael Masi despite reports that he could lose his job after the controversial ending to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Formula One’s governing body is investigating the events of last season’s title decider which saw Max Verstappen pip Lewis Hamilton to the championship.
Reports have suggested that the FIA are planning a new race-management structure while teams are said to have been consulted over whether there should be a new race director.
Michael Masi’s future as Formula One’s race director is still uncertain amid an ongoing investigation into the controversial title decider in Abu Dhabi last season
The controversial ending to the Abu Dhabi GP saw Max Verstappen become champion
Mercedes are pushing for Masi’s dismissal while the future of seven-time champion Hamilton in the sport is still uncertain.
However, a statement has urged that no decision has yet been made with findings of their investigation to be presented later this month before going for approval on March 18 in Bahrain – two days before the first race of the season.
Their statement reads: ‘At this stage, no decision has been taken on the outcome of the detailed analysis currently underway into the events of the last Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
‘As previously announced, the findings of this detailed analysis will be presented at the F1 Commission meeting in London on 14th February after an open discussion with all F1 drivers and then finally have to be approved at the World Motor Sport Council meeting on 18th March in Bahrain, under the authority of FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.’
Lewis Hamilton’s future in Formula One is still uncertain after losing the title on the last lap
The FIA’s statements come despite comments from the FIA’s head of single-seaters, Peter Bayer, telling the BBC that there is a possibility there could be a new race director in 2022.
At the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Masi allowed some cars to unlap themselves and not others, which saw Verstappen move up right behind Hamilton just as the safety car was being brought in before the final lap of the race.
Verstappen, on much fresher tyres after pitting behind the safety car, overtook Hamilton on the last lap to seal the title.
Mercedes lodged protests following the race but they were dismissed and Hamilton has hardly been seen in public since. He went to Windsor Castle to collect his knighthood days after the Abu Dhabi race but that is the only time he has been in the spotlight.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is believed to be pushing for Masi to lose his job
Hamilton, 37, has maintained radio silence since the contentious events in the Middle East last month, and on Tuesday Mercedes were unable to confirm whether their star driver would be attending the team’s car launch on February 18.
The FIA are planning a management restructure which could see Masi out of a job ahead of the 2022 season, or potentially with an experienced support team put around him.
This comes after Red Bull boss Christian Horner and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff both lobbied Masi during the closing moments of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix which determined the 2021 title.
The BBC reported that while some teams want him to go it’s thought the move isn’t one backed by all in F1, with Red Bull denying they want Masi to go and Ferrari ‘unaware of the request’.
