Michael Masi sacked by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile - FIA

In Summary
  • Masi came under pressure in Abu Dhabi from both Mercedes and Red Bull to make decisions in their favour. 
Michael MasI
Image: FIA

The FIA sacked Michael Masi as Formula One race director in the aftermath of the controversy in last season's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The Australian was widely criticised for his handling of last year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, when his controversial decisions around safety car procedure gave Max Verstappen the opportunity to pass Lewis Hamilton and clinch the drivers’ championship.

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem confirmed a number of structural changes as part of a 'step forward for Formula 1 refereeing' on Thursday, one being that Niels Wittich, former DTM race director, and Eduardo Freitas, WEC race director, will act alternatively as F1's race director.

And as part of a wider restructure of race control, direct communications between the teams and race director will no longer be allowed. 

The FIA will also add a remote race control that is expected to operate in a similar way to football’s VAR, while the report into the failings at Abu Dhabi is expected to be published at the season-opening race in Bahrain on March 18th-20th 2020.