Scuderia Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto believes Michael Masi underwent "the most difficult job on the planet" with regard to his role at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

As has been well documented by now, FIA Race Director Michael Masi has faced sharp criticism for the way he handled the closing stages of a gripping 2021 F1 season finale.  Ultimately, Michael Masi’s directive to allow a select group of cars to unlap themselves was decisive. This application of the rules ensured that Red Bull Racing’s talismanic driver Max Verstappen, on a fresher tyre compound, had optimum tools at his disposal to pass the seven-time F1 Drivers’ Champion Sir Lewis Hamilton. With a single lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Pix remaining, Verstappen was up to the task and in doing so claimed his maiden F1 Drivers’ Championship.

Speaking at a pre-Christmas media briefing, as reported by GPFans.com, Scuderia Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto, stated that in his eyes, whatever call Masi made, he was in a no-win situation.

"On what happened in Abu Dhabi, I think whatever decision he would have taken, I see someone who will be happy, someone will be unhappy," explained Binotto. "I think his job was the most difficult job on the planet at that time."

"For all, it's important lessons are learned if any. I see what could be important within the F1 Commission. We discussed all the events and the situations and identified if there is any improvement we could make for the future. That's the mandate from the World Council, which is the most important one."

This confirmation, that the issue was discussed at a World Council meeting before Christmas, shows the level of severity for all involved. Also, Binotto went on to suggest that further discussion may still be yet to take place.

"As Ferrari, again, very happy to sit down with all the other team principles, the FIA, F1, to discuss if something could have been done in a different way," said Binotto. "Judging the decisions would be wrong from my side because I believe, again, it was a very difficult call. It seems there are proper reasons why they [the FIA] managed it that way, maybe something different could have been done. Again, difficult to judge. As I said, someone would be happy and another one not. That's no doubt."

As 2021 draws to a close, this is not the way that anyone hoped to be starting the new year and again it is time for some perspective.

Perspective. The ability to understand what is important and what isn't. At a time of a global pandemic there are many more issues of importance than what happens in the world of Formula One. Also, there are many more important jobs in the world than that of FIA Race Director.

One can only hope that lessons have been learned for the future but what cannot be forgotten is that a championship is decided over the course of a season and not a single race. As such, the sport needs to be careful that it does not get lost down a rabbit hole when evaluating the outcome of Abu Dhabi.

1996 F1 Drivers’ World Champion Damon Hill summed it up best with his most recent post on social media. After thanking marshals, fans, media and journalists, Damon Hill signed off with ‘Remember, it’s only a bit of fun.’ A sentiment which we could all do well to remember.

https://www.motorlat.com/notas/f1/23537/f1-why-f1-twitter-is-becoming-a-human-stain-on-our-sport