© LAT Images for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd
In response to the Abu Dhabi controversy, the FIA named Herbie Blash as Permanent Advisor to the Race Director. Now, he gives his view on the Abu Dhabi GP finish.
Under the FIA’s new Formula 1 race management structure, the two race directors Niels Wittich and Eduaro Freitas will be able to call upon Permanent Advisor Herbie Blash to provide them with his opinions on certain situations.
From late 1995 until the end of 2016, Blash was the FIA Deputy Race Director at Formula 1 races, serving under legendary long-time race director Charlie Whiting.
While talking to F1 analyst Peter Windsor, Blash revealed how he views the controversial finish of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
“First of all, I felt very sorry for Michael [Masi, race director at the time] and for Lewis,” Blash said.
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“I was actually in Barbados watching with some friends, and under no pressure at all, when I saw the situation with the shunted car, wow.
“[It would have been] ideal to stop the race, and have a fantastic sprint race.”
However, Blash is not sure what he would have done had he actually been in charge at the time.
“Would I have done that if I had been in Abu Dhabi? That, I don’t know. But sitting there with friends that’s exactly what I said.
“But Michael was under huge pressure,” he concluded.
