© LAT Images for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd
By Carol M. Creasey
After Max Verstappen appeared to win the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and the 2021 championship, thanks to Michael Masi, the race director who changed the rules, there was outrage from a lot of diehard Formula One fans.
Sir Lewis Hamilton, the person who was so badly wronged, congratulated Verstappen, and then took himself away from the very toxic situation, and maintained a dignified silence.
Masi’s actions were blamed on a desire to have an exciting ending for the fans, as it was believed an ending behind the Safety Car would have not been dramatic enough. We were told it was absolutely not Masi favouring Verstappen and the Red Bull team.
Toto Wolff immediately lodged a protest at the unfair result after the race, as when he had told Masi it wasn’t right, all he got was a sarcastic retort: “Toto, it’s called a motor race”. Unfortunately this is where the FIA let the fans who like to see fair races down badly, as they all closed ranks and said Masi’s actions were ok. This is the moment that the integrity of the sport was broken, as Verstappen had not yet been declared champion, and lap 58 could still have been voided.
So Toto had to threaten to launch an appeal before the FIA would do anything, but finally they agreed to do an investigation into the finish of the race, and also the inconsistent decisions made during the whole season.
We were told recently that Masi had been removed as race director, but would get another position within the FIA. At the Barcelona pre-season test Lewis said that race stewards should not have close relationships with drivers, as it might cause them to be biased in their decision-making. The FIA responded by saying all their employees are fastidious in doing their job, and unbiased.
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But then Verstappen revealed he sent Masi a text after he had lost his job, expressing his support. How would he even know his phone number unless they were close? Additionally, we all heard Red Bull Sporting Director Jonathan Wheatley instructing Masi on what to do during the Safety Car period, and Masi responding with “Understood”. After hearing all that it’s difficult not to remember all the times Verstappen got away with driving Lewis off the track last year with no punishment, then brake testing him in Jeddah, which should at the very least have earned him a race ban. But no, the FIA couldn’t do that because then he would have had no chance of winning the championship.
So, at this point it’s really not looking good for Red Bull. Christian Horner and Max Verstappen have both said Masi should not have been sacked, however, the new FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem was quick to point out that when put to the vote at the FIA meeting whether Masi should go, it was unanimously decided he should. I can’t help but wonder why Horner is shouting so loudly now that Masi is gone.
All this obvious bias fills me with disgust, and I feel the FIA had badly let the fans down. I want to concentrate on 2022, but every day new revelations come out, and I really don’t know how the Red Bull team can look anyone in the eye. If Horner thinks paying Verstappen as much as Lewis turns him into the best driver in the world, then he is deluded. He needs to earn that with safe and fair driving, only then will he earn respect.
Be sure to follow Carol on Twitter @eagertogo and visit her website www.carolmcreasey.com!
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