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Former F1 drivers Martin Brundle and Damon Hill give their opinions on the “uncomfortable” radio messages between Red Bull and Michael Masi.
After the FIA confirmed they are investigating Abu Dhabi Grand Prix radio messages between Red Bull and race director Michael Masi, which strongly suggest Masi was influenced by the Austrian team to break the rules and favour Max Verstappen in the final lap of the race, the Formula 1 world is in an uproar.
Former F1 driver and Sky Sports analyst Martin Brundle gave his opinion on the situation.
“It’s not new news, and also I think you have to understand that it’s not necessarily telling Michael Masi something he didn’t already know,” Brundle said regarding the message from Red Bull Sporting Director Jonathan Wheatley to Masi.
“Let’s not assume it’s giving Masi information he didn’t already know in terms of what he could and couldn’t do in terms of the lapped pack.
“Of course it’s really uncomfortable, and a lot of people are unhappy: (Lewis) Hamilton fans, Mercedes fans.
“And you don’t even have to be a Lewis Hamilton fan to think that forever he should be an eight-time world champion, because, for me, the really crucial regulation that wasn’t carried out was that the safety car should have come in at the end of the following lap.
“But we also know that unwritten rules and meetings, which shouldn’t supersede anything, were: let’s try not to have a race finish behind the safety car.
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“Hugely unacceptable. I met so many fans that were new to Formula 1 last year particularly, and fans in general, that were hugely upset by what happened.
“We cannot – and we know it’s going to change – have teams getting at the referee while he’s trying to make critical decisions with cars on the track and marshals and breakdown vehicles.
“The car was on fire at certain times. He’s trying to manage that and he’s getting lobbied left, right and centre.
“You can imagine that on the football ground or rugby ground is completely unacceptable. And that will change.
“It’s not pretty for Formula 1 at all, but I don’t think this audio today changes the really uncomfortable narrative of what happened.”
Brundle also said he believes Masi’s position as race director is now untenable.
“I made a comment that changing Michael Masi won’t fix the problem, meaning that it’s way too big a job for one person.
“That doesn’t mean to say I’m in full support for Michael Masi. I think he’ll struggle to keep that position.
“The trouble is that the spotlight will be on him, and every single decision will be analysed.
“What happens if Lewis is up for a penalty? Will he be lenient on that? I think he’s in an untenable situation.
“You can’t unravel the result. Red Bull did nothing wrong, and Ferrari did nothing wrong in third place for example. You can’t penalise them. The FIA can only penalise themselves for getting it wrong on the day.
“Michael Masi got it wrong, due to a lot of circumstances,” Brundle concluded.
1996 Formula 1 champion also gave his thoughts on the situation in a Twitter response.
“It’s not new or emerging news,” Hill wrote.
“It does however make for uncomfortable listening, as it did at the time. No-one (except Red Bull) is happy about this. The question is, what does one do about it?”
When suggested to Hill that the FIA should at least apologize to Lewis, the Briton agreed.
“I think an apology is due to Hamilton and to all F1 fans. But it won’t change the result of the 2021 F1 Championship. That is the whole point of my argument.
“Sacking Masi will not change the result. It may even be better for Hamilton if he stays! He owes him,” Hill concluded.
