Mohammed Ben Sulayem announced on Thursday (02/17/2022) that Michael Masi would end as race director. In a video message lasting almost three and a half minutes, the 60-year-old from Dubai announced, among other things, the planned introduction of a kind of video referee, that a new “race management” with the Germans Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas from Portugal will be in action.
support at all levels
They will take turns going forward and will be supported by Herbie Blash as permanent advisor. Masi, who took over the post of race director ahead of the 2019 season following the sudden death of Charlie Whiting, has been offered a new post within the Fia.
Ben Sulayem stressed that his plans had been unanimously approved by Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and the team bosses. Ben Sulaymen has also received support from the Fia Senate and the World Motor Sport Council.
Hamilton wants to comment
The news of the restructuring, including personnel consequences, should have been well received by those responsible at Mercedes in particular. And that – unlike Ferrari, which presented the new F1-75 on Thursday almost at the same time as the Fia message – just in time one day before the presentation of the new Silver Arrow this Friday. Then record world champion Lewis Hamilton will also comment on what happened at the time for the first time after the 2021 final.
With his decisions on December 12, Masi only made it possible for Max Verstappen to overtake Hamilton in the Red Bull on the last lap, which enabled the Dutchman to win the title for the first time. In this context, recordings of the radio traffic between Masi and the Red Bull command center recently appeared, in which the scenario practiced immediately afterwards by the racing team was described.
Toto Wolff had called for action
Mercedes had lodged two protests after the race, but these were rejected. The team of the still seven-time world champion had decided not to go to the court of appeal. He was just as disillusioned as he and the entire team, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff emphasized at the time and also clarified: “I expect actions and not just words. We can’t freestyle like that with the rules in a sport that’s supposed to be a sport.”
There is no sport without referees, Ben Sulaymen said in his statement. With a new virtual race control room – like the video referee in football – the decision-making should be improved by means of modern technology and in direct contact with the race director.
Changes to radio traffic and lapping back
The radio traffic is no longer transmitted, this should take pressure off the race director. By the start of the season on March 20 in Bahrain, the rules for lapping back when using the safety car are also to be revised.