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Mercedes Formula 1 boss Toto Wolff has excoriated former race director Michael Masi two months on from the removal of the Australian from his role overseeing F1 grands prix.
Masi was replaced by a rotating duo of Eduardo Freitas and Niels Wittich following the FIA’s inquiry into the ultra-controversial conclusion of the 2021 season in Abu Dhabi, during which Masi’s handling of the late-race safety car – which went against what was prescribed in the regulations – was key to allowing Red Bull driver Max Verstappen to defeat Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton in the race and their championship battle.
Despite replacing Masi and acknowledging there was “human error” in how the Abu Dhabi restart was officiated, the FIA has been repeatedly keen to stress that Masi was “acting in good faith”, while being critical of both Red Bull and Mercedes for applying pressure on the race director over radio communications during that spell of the grand prix.
Masi has also received some support from F1 drivers, with Verstappen claiming he was “thrown under the bus” and the two McLaren drivers questioning the decision to remove him from the role.
Wolff, however, has now reportedly elected to take his displeasure with Masi public, admonishing the Australian in an interview with British news agency PA Media, as relayed by Sky Sports.
“You hear from the drivers and how the drivers’ briefings were conducted and some of the guys said it was almost disrespectful how he treated some of them,” Wolff said of Masi.
“He was just immune to any feedback and even today he has not properly reflected that he did something wrong.
“He was a liability for the sport because everybody kept talking about Abu Dhabi and the race director, and the race director should not be somebody that people talk about, but someone who does the job and makes sure the race is run according to the regulations.”
Wolff also revealed he’d had lunch with Masi in the lead-up to Abu Dhabi and says he told Masi at the time: “You need to take criticism on board and develop from there. Lewis does it every day, but you are a guy who always seems to know better.”
Upon Masi’s removal, the FIA said it would be offering the Australian a new role within the governing body – but it remains unclear what exactly that role is and whether the offer has been made, accepted or declined.
