Max Verstappen has launched a passionate defence of former F1 Race Director Michael Masi during a press conference at pre-season testing in Barcelona today.

The Australian lost his position last week as it was confirmed he would be replaced by two Race Directors for the upcoming season.

Masi was heavily criticised for only allowing the unlapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen to unlap themselves in the closing stages of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, after initially sending a message that said lapped cars wouldn’t be allowed to unlap behind the Safety Car.

It meant Verstappen on much fresher tyres got a run at Hamilton on the final lap and overtook the Brit to claim his first title.

Verstappen believes it was unacceptable for the likes of Toto Wolff and Christian Horner to be constantly on the FIA radio to Masi during races to try and influence decisions.

The 24-year-old Dutchman added that Masi was thrown under the bus and thinks it wasn’t the right decision to sack the Australian.

The Red Bull star added he texted Masi after the news of his departure broke.

“For me it’s very unfair what happened to Michael because he’s really been thrown under the bus,” he said.

“Of course people talk a lot about what happened in Abu Dhabi, but can you imagine a referee in whatever sport has a coach, or equivalent, screaming in his ear all the time?

“’Yellow card, red card, no decision, no foul!’ It’s impossible to make a decision.

“I think in the first place that F1 already allowed that, [that] team members can speak to him while making decisions, is very wrong because it needed to be Michael making the decisions on his own, without having people screaming in his ear.”

“[The fact] the people who did sack him allowed that in the first place, for me is unacceptable.

“Now they sacked him and I find that really incredible. I feel really sorry for Michael because I feel he was a really capable and good race director.

“I have nothing against the new race directors because I think they’re also very capable and good race directors, but for Michael I felt really sad and I sent him a text as well.

“Not the right decision.”

Verstappen believes Masi needed more support like Charlie Whiting got from the likes of Herbie Blasch – and thinks the Australian needed more time and experience after just three seasons in the position.

Masi was parachuted into the role after just a single season as FIA Deputy Race Director following the sudden death of Whiting on the Thursday before the 2019 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

Whiting was Race Director for over 20 years before his untimely passing.

“After Charlie died, it’s very tough to take over from someone like him. He had so much experience from the previous years and also Charlie had help around him. Maybe Michael just needed a little bit more?

“But everyone needs experience. I came into this sport as a complete rookie, and now I’m so much further than when I was back then and I think it would have been the same for Michael.

“To immediately sack him for me is not the right decision but I wish him all the best with whatever comes next and I hope it is better than being F1 race director.”