F1 | FIA to reduce number of obligations of race director; Masi could still be fired
Peter Bayer, FIA’s head of single-seater categories, has spoken about the fallout from the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP and what changes the organization is planning to avoid a repeat of such scenarios in the future. He also said “there is a possibility” that Michael Masi might not retain his job as race director.
After the controversial ending to the 2021 F1 World Championship, the actions of race director Michael Masi were heavily criticised, as he made some questionable decisions when interpreting the rulebook and its safety car procedures. That resulted in a late, one lap sprint to the chequered flag to decide the World Championship, resulting in Max Verstappen getting past long-time race leader Lewis Hamilton and taking the ultimate crown.
FIA Secretary General for Motor Sport, Peter Bayer, spoke to Austrian journalist Gerhard Kuntschick, as reported by the BBC, has commented on the matter and how the FIA is planning to change the race direction structure, mainly dividing all the jobs that Michael Masi had to at the same time, to a group of people, letting the race director focus on his job properly. But he doesn’t rule out that Masi might lose his job after all:
"Michael did a super job in many ways. We told him that.
"But also that there is a possibility there could be a new race director."
"(We are looking at) dividing the various tasks of the race director, who is also sports director, safety and track delegate.
"That was simply too much. These roles are divided between several people. This reduces the burden on the race director."
Regarding the safety car procedures, Bayer said the teams still agree on giving preference to races finishing under green flag conditions, but stresses that the procedures will be refined, with a potential “mission control” board based in Geneva to be set-up to help and support the race director, and avoid direct lobbying from teams, as happened many times in 2021.
"We also asked the teams if their requirement not to finish a race under safety car was still relevant, to which they all agreed.
"The team managers will still be able to - they have to be able to ask questions.
"We want to build in a buffer with an employee who accepts these requests.
"In the future, the race director will be able to concentrate on his task and will no longer be distracted."
FIA Statement #F1 pic.twitter.com/SQXKxK5LOG
— FIA (@fia) January 13, 2022
Speaking about what could be done, if anything, to revert the results of the Yas Marina race, Bayer was clear that nothing can be done now, and explained why Mercedes’ protest wouldn’t have proceeded much even if it was indeed lodged:
"Had the Mercedes protest gone to the Court of Appeal, after being rejected by the stewards, what would have happened?
"I think the judges would have said: 'It's different in the regulations, he decided that way, so we could just void the result.'
"But even then - if it were cancelled - Max Verstappen would have been world champion (because he was ahead going into the race).
"The situation was far from perfect and that's why we're working on it. It's also about having respect for the race director.
"My job is to look ahead, how can we improve things?" Bayer concluded.
The FIA is expected to show to the F1 Comission the full results of its inquiry into the events of Abu Dhabi in February, and to the World’s Motor Sport Council on March 18, just two days before the start of the new season, in Sakhir.
