Michael Masi could be F1’s ‘sacrificial lamb’, Martin Brundle predicts
Race director Masi has been criticised for his role in the controversial ending to the 2021 Formula 1 season
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Martin Brundle fears that race director Michael Masi could be made a “sacrificial lamb” for his role in the controversial conclusion to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Masi’s decision to let cars between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton unlap themselves, teeing up a final-lap duel between the title rivals, has been heavily criticised.
The FIA are investigating the events that allowed Verstappen to snatch his first Formula 1 world title in Abu Dhabi.
Mercedes were left furious by Masi’s late-race ruling, believing it went against precedent and was unfair on Hamilton, who had seemed poised to secure a record-setting eighth Drivers’ Championship.
Former F1 driver and prominent pundit and presenter Martin Brundle believes that the FIA must clarify what happened in their report, and fears that Masi may lose his job.
“[Michael Masi] might be the sacrificial lamb,” Brundle outlined on Sky Sports’ The F1 Show.
Max Verstappen aims shot at ‘lucky’ Lewis Hamilton over seven F1 world titles
Lewis Hamilton will never get over Abu Dhabi Grand Prix finale, Toto Wolff claims
‘Untenable’ Michael Masi situation a ‘headache’ for F1
Toto Wolff’s Michael Masi comments ‘completely unacceptable’, Martin Brundle claims
‘Rudderless’ FIA ‘not feared by teams’, Martin Brundle claims
“What’s really important here for the FIA and for Formula 1 is that this is not swept under the carpet and just left for a few weeks and then overtaken by the new 2022 cars, and the tests, and what have you.
“We need to understand what happened and why it won’t happen again.
“We need to reassure the fans that what they are seeing is for real, genuine, and that they are giving up their free time to watch something that is a genuine competition.”
The 2022 F1 season is schedule to begin at the Bahrain Grand Prix in March, with the first round of preseason testing held in Barcelona in the final week of February.
Hamilton is said to be waiting for the findings of the FIA’s report before committing to a decision on whether he will return to the grid.
The British driver needs one more world title to surpass Michael Schumacher as the outright most successful driver in F1 history.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments