Masi: “You can’t compare apples and oranges”

The wait was long. After a very eventful Austrian Grand Prix, no one expected a final classification so late. Whose fault is it ? But above all: whose victory? It was the Dutchman who won, sweeping aside the protégé's hopes in the process. Ferrari.

Michael Masi was the privileged witness to the long interview conducted by the commissioners. Appointed by the FIA ​​as race director in F1 after the sudden death of Charlie Whiting last March, he saw them decide on an exceptional case which presented numerous sporting and regulatory issues.

According to Masi, if the deliberation was so long, it is because many actors were summoned during the interview after arrival.

“All parties involved were heard for almost an hour. The commissioners then deliberated on the basis of previous cases”, he explained. Particularly, the two pilots concerned (editor’s note: Max Verstappen et Charles Leclerc) were present throughout the interview, both very involved in their respective defense according to the race director. “The commissioners wanted to hear from both drivers to better understand the situation. Everyone had an opposing version, which was not a surprise to us”, he said.

Remember that this case occurred only three weeks after the sanction applied to Sebastian Vettel. The German received a 5-second penalty for dangerously returning to the track while leading the race. It's not easy for the FIA ​​to deal with this incident, when we know that it has attracted the wrath of the discipline.

For Masi, this event did not influence the decision taken at the end of last weekend.

“I don’t know if the pressure has increased, it’s always been there. […] The marshals know that each incident must be analyzed according to the situation, whether it concerns the portion of the track, the circumstances or the drivers involved. You can't compare apples and oranges. »

The race director wants to be impartial: for him, the rules take precedence.

“We are talking here about the Formula 1 World Championship organized by the FIA. Logically, this, the teams and the drivers are partners who are committed to the success of the discipline. But at the end of the day, we have to enforce the rules.", he said.