Michael Masi leaves the FIA

Could the story end any other way? This Tuesday, July 12, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) announced the departure of Michael Masi with immediate effect.

According to a press release issued by the governing body, Michael Masi has made the decision to step away from the FIA ​​and “relocate to Australia to be closer to family and take on new challenges. »

In the spring of 2019, Michael Masi was chosen to replace the famous Charlie Whiting at short notice in the prestigious and responsible position of Race Director and Safety Delegate during the Grand Prix of Formula 1. Charlie Whiting died suddenly shortly before the Australian Grand Prix that year.

For three years, the Australian, spent in the race management room at V8 Supercars then in Formula 2 et Formula 3, reluctantly acquired global notoriety during the 2021 F1 season.

A succession of controversies arising from his decisions punctuated the duel between Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and Max Verstappen (Red Bull): bring out the red flag in Azerbaijan to restart the event for a few kilometers, the fiasco of the Belgian Grand Prix in the rain but with three laps completed under neutralization, the haggling in Saudi Arabia to change the positions on the grid during the second departure between Hamilton and Verstappen, and of course, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

December 12, 2021, when the FIA ​​race director decides on a very personal interpretation of the regulations during the final round of the world championship. This has the effect of offering the title to Max Verstappen on a plate. The affair caused a lot of noise and forced the sporting authorities to launch an internal investigation to determine the possible failings of its representative. The judgment is rendered on February 17, 2022. Michael Masi loses his position which will now be occupied by Niels Wittich, former race director DTM, and Eduardo Freitas, race director WEC.

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