It is known that the FIA has been making a full investigation on the acts and decisions taken by race director Michael Masi and race control officials in the last few laps on the title-deciding last race of the season at Yas Marina Circuit last year.

With his decisions on the restart and safety car, Masi did not enforce the last two articles of the sporting regulations, causing doubts and questions about his future as race director and a possible restructuring of the FIA’s F1 team.

As part of the ongoing investigation, newly elected FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has met with the teams to discuss the events that happened in Abu Dhabi that led to the investigation and probable resolutions. But the debate is set to continue before any final changes are made before the start of the new season.

On Friday, Steiner spoke to MotorLat and other selected media, but he did not get into heavy details about what was talked with the FIA about Masi’s future or probable restructuration of the FIA’s F1 operations. He did express confidence in the investigation.

“I didn’t give a lot of recommendations to President Mohammed,” Steiner said.

“We talked about it, and I think there are private talks, and I don’t want to go there. I know they are diligently working on it, to make it - I wouldn’t say better, which is the wrong word - to make it mainly better for whoever is race director.

“It’s a very difficult job, and I’m not here to protect Michael or anything. It is very difficult. I think the sport has grown so much, and some of the things have stayed behind.

“I’m sure they will come up with some ideas when we are presented them, and then we’ll see what they are doing. I didn’t give them any recommendation what to do, a specific one.”

He also expressed his confidence by saying: “We talked about the issues a little bit, and we all know them. I think the FIA is working diligently that we move into better future.”

Another topic that has been spoken of is the possible replacement of Michael Masi. FIA secretary for sport, Peter Bayer admitted in an interview at the end of last month that a replacement was possible.

Steiner was asked if he thought the Australian, who stepped up to serve as race director after Charlie Whiting’s sudden passing, was the right man for the job.  

“Again, I've got enough on my plate with my company to be honest,” he answered, reluctant to get into deatil.

“I wouldn't like to go into the FIA to tell them what they should be doing, because I know that they are doing things, but I do know not the details, contracts and stuff like this.

“I'm not trying to avoid the question. I honestly don't know their structure in there completely. And we all know Michael Masi as the race director, but I don't know what is underlying and how to make it better.

“As I said I'm pretty busy with with what I'm doing for Haas F1. So I'm not getting involved. I've got the full confidence in the FIA, that they will fix it because everybody speaks about it.

“You guys ask questions, but these will be questions more for the FIA than for me."