FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has hinted the return of Michael Masi as he underlined his wish for a “minimum of three F1 race directors”.
This comes after the contentious manner in which the 2021 season finale went down in Abu Dhabi, leading to a massive Formula 1 restructure during winter.
The management of a late safety car period at Abu Dhabi GP and the immediate restart sparked controversy, with Lewis Hamilton missing out on a record-equaling eighth world championship after a last-lap battle with Max Verstappen.
Despite Masi’s removal as F1 race director and safety delegate, Ben Sulayem told Sportsmail that the Australian’s troubles are far from over.
“I didn’t get rid of Michael… he had a personal overload – safety delegate as well as race director… he made a mistake,” said Ben Sulayem. “It is not as if we said it is the end of Masi with the FIA.
“I don’t do that sort of thing. Even people who didn’t vote for me, I embrace. We don’t think of individuals, we think of the operation itself.”
“I don’t know Michael very well. The decision [to sack him from race director role] was made by the World Council. It was human error on Michael’s part.”
While many praised Masi’s forced resignation following the issue surrounding the 2021 championship fight at Abu Dhabi GP, new FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem says that he has not fired him.
“I spoke to him two days ago,” said the FIA president. “I have no personal issue. I don’t hate anyone.”
“Michael is there and we might use him,” he added. “I didn’t say we were getting rid of him. I said we might use him. He may be in a good place to use. We are open to everything.”
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The FIA appointed Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas as F1 race directors as part of the restructuring process. Ben Sulayem, on the other hand, wants to increase this number in order to allow Masi to return.
“Our race structure was wrong organisationally and though we have brought in two new race directors, I wouldn’t say we have got it all right yet. We need to clean the stables.”
“It’s not like going to a supermarket and asking for some more stewards. You need firm and fair people, tolerant people.
“I am thinking, for example, of bringing in rally co-drivers, who have plenty of multi-tasking skills that are required, and training them up. We need a recruitment drive.”
“This lack of people in the FIA needs to be addressed. I would like to see a minimum of three race directors, ideally by the beginning of next year.”
