Michael Masi

Michael Masi (born 1978) is an Australian motorsports official. Since March 2019 he has served as the FIA Formula One Race Director.

Michael Masi
Born1978 (age 42–43)
Sydney, Australia
NationalityAustralian
OccupationMotorsports official

Early life

Masi was born in Sydney in 1978 and is of Italian descent. Growing up in the suburbs of Fairfield and Canada Bay, Masi initially studied marketing at TAFE before his roles in motorsport.[1]

Career

Masi began his career in motor racing volunteering for Super Touring teams while still at school. He worked as deputy race director in the Supercars touring car series[2] and at Rally Australia.[3] In 2018 he was appointed by the FIA as the Formula Two and Formula Three deputy race director and was appointed deputy to F1 race director Charlie Whiting.[4][5]

Following Whiting's sudden death before the 2019 Australian Grand Prix, Masi took on the role of Formula One race director.[6] In this role Masi, oversees the logistics of a Grand Prix weekend, ensuring all cars, tracks and drivers conform to FIA regulations before, during and after a race.

2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix controversy
Main article: 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

During the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the last race of the season, Masi was involved in a safety car procedure controversy.[7][8][9] On lap 56 of the race, during which Lewis Hamilton was leading, Masi allowed only the five cars directly in front of championship contender Max Verstappen to unlap themselves before the restart. This allowed Verstappen to then overtake Hamilton and win the 2021 World Drivers' Championship.[10]

Mercedes protested the race result, alleging that Masi violated safety car procedure by allowing the cars directly in front of Verstappen to unlap themselves, and no others, and that according to regulations the restart should have occurred the following lap, which would have resulted in Hamilton's victory.[11] Stewards dismissed the protest on the grounds according to article 48.13 and 15.3 in the F1 sporting regulations, that the Race Director has the "overriding authority" to amend any rule regarding safety car procedure as they wish, and to declare Hamilton the winner for leading at lap 57 would retrospectively shorten the race.[12] Mercedes lodged their intentions to appeal the ruling.[13][14] Following the FIA's announcement that it would conduct a "detailed analysis and clarification exercise" of the incident and its admission that the controversy was "tarnishing the image" of the sport, Mercedes decided not to pursue their appeal.[15]

References
  1. "Q&A: Michael Masi, Formula 1 Race Director, 41". www.theaustralian.com.au. 27 June 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  2. Chokhani, Darshan (2019-03-27). "Michael Masi keeps F1 race director and safety delegate role for Bahrain GP". DriveTribe. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  3. "Masi is revved for rally". 20 January 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  4. "Q&A: Michael Masi, Formula 1 Race Director, 41". www.theaustralian.com.au. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  5. Parkes, Ian (2019-09-19). "Michael Masi Dives In as Race Director". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  6. "Australian Michael Masi appointed F1 race director". www.gptoday.com. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  7. Amako, Uche (2021-12-13). "Who is Michael Masi? The man at the centre of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen F1 title row". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  8. O'Connell, Author RJ (2021-12-12). "Verstappen is champion as controversial last-lap call leaves Mercedes seething". RaceFans. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  9. Woodhouse, Jamie (2021-12-12). "Toto Wolff urges Michael Masi to reinstate Lewis Hamilton as Abu Dhabi GP winner". PlanetF1. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  10. "How F1's desperation for drama saw rules bent in attempt to 'contrive' reality TV finish". Fox Sports. 2021-12-13. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  11. "BREAKING: Mercedes launch protests over Abu Dhabi GP result after Safety Car-affected race end | Formula 1®". www.formula1.com. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  12. "2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Decision - Mercedes Protest Art. 48.12" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 12 December 2021.
  13. "Stewards dismiss Mercedes' Abu Dhabi Grand Prix protests, as team lodge intention to appeal". 12 December 2021.
  14. "Decision - Mercedes Protest Art. 48.8" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 12 December 2021.
  15. Benson, Andrew (16 December 2021). "Mercedes will not pursue appeal against F1 title-deciding Abu Dhabi result". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 17 December 2021.


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