PARIS — Michael Masi, removed as
Formula One race director over his management of the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year, has left the FIA, the sport's governing body said.
اضافة اعلان
"The FIA confirms that Michael Masi has decided to leave the FIA and relocate to Australia to be closer to his family and take on new challenges," read a statement from the FIA.
"He oversaw three years as FIA Formula 1 race director and safety delegate following the sudden passing of
Charlie Whiting in 2019, carrying out the numerous functions he was tasked with in a professional and dedicated manner."
Masi was heavily criticized for the sequence of events that led to Max Verstappen passing Lewis Hamilton to deprive the Briton of a record eighth title.
Masi called in the safety car for the last lap, then controversially allowed the backmarkers between race leader Hamilton and Verstappen to unlap themselves.
That led to a one-lap shoot-out between
Hamilton and
Verstappen, who had a huge advantage with fresh tires on his Red Bull car. The Dutchman exploited it to stunning effect when he picked off Hamilton in his Mercedes to seal the title.
Mercedes and Red Bull both put pressure on Masi to make decisions that would have helped their driver. However, the former was left incensed as they believed Masi followed their rivals' suggestions.
The team made two immediate protests, both of which were rejected.
Hamilton, while graceful in defeat, had made his feelings all too clear when passed by his Dutch arch-rival, saying on his team radio: "This has been manipulated, man."
Mercedes team chief
Toto Wolff raised the possibility that Hamilton might even walk away from the sport.
Wolff claimed a "disillusioned" Hamilton would "never get over" the Abu Dhabi conclusion.
Both boycotted the end-of-season gala dinner at the FIA's Paris headquarters, where Verstappen was duly anointed world champion.
Hamilton, though did return and presently sits in sixth position in the overall standings, 99 points adrift of championship leader Verstappen at the halfway point of the season.
Since the controversial finish to the Abu Dhabi race, the FIA has announced measures to ease the pressure on the race director and altered his communication mode.
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