FORMER Formula One world champion Damon Hill ‘feels sorry’ for sacked race director Michael Masi – and is unconvinced he should have lost his job.
Masi was handed his P45 last month following his controversial handling of the final race of last season.
Michael Masi was sacked as F1’s race director in February
Damon Hill believes the decision was harsh and could have been avoided
He failed to follow strict safety car regulations, giving the green light for a last-lap showdown between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.
The Dutchman had been able to pit for fresh soft tyres and close the gap on the seven-time champ to breeze past him and claim the win – and with it his maiden world title.
The FIA investigated Masi and booted him in place of Eduardo Freitas and Niels Wittich with the latter expected to act as a deputy with veteran Herbie Blash, who worked with former Race Director Charlie Whiting, returning as a senior advisor.
But 1996 winner Hill questioned the decision.
He told the F1 Nation podcast: “Was he necessarily sacrificed?
“I feel sorry for the guy and we’ve had drivers say so [as well]. They’ve come out and said he did a good job in difficult circumstances.
“I personally think that the situation and the structure he was expected to operate in was the problem.
“I’m not saying it was right what happened [in Abu Dhabi], but we could see clearly during the season that confusion was being thrown into decision making and pressure by some of the team bosses.
“There was also the pressure of those conversations being broadcast.
“If they fix all that, then I’m not sure they needed to get rid of Michael [Masi].
“You can also say because of his role in the matter [of the World Championship title], it would have been controversial to keep him on.
“But not a happy ending to last year, quite honestly, from lots of different perspectives.”
Masi’s dismissal was also criticised by Red Bull boss Christian Horner, who told talkSPORT he feels Masi has been treated unfairly.
Verstappen’s boss Horner said: “It’s a difficult one, and it’s the FIA’s business.
“I think it is harsh, I think he was in a very difficult position last year.
“We felt a lot of the decisions went against us last year.
“When you look at what he has at his disposal in terms of resource, compared to what the teams have, it’s such a massive difference.
“It’s good to hear they are bringing in things like the VAR equivalent and one of the most experienced guys in Herbie Blash.
“I just think there was so much pressure put on the removal of Michael and that’s not right. That’s my personal feeling.”
However, Horner’s conversations with Masi’s successor Freitas will not be made public.
That is because a change in rules has banned broadcasters from playing the radio interactions between teams and F1 personnel during races.
Verstappen has penned a new £37million-a-year contract with Red Bull.
And his title defence begins in less than two weeks at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Christian Horner and Max Verstappen were the ones celebrating at the end of the 2021 season
