Alex Wurz defends under-fire race director Masi
Dec.16 - Alex Wurz has backed Formula 1's under-fire race director Michael Masi.
Australian Masi, having taken over from Charlie Whiting following the F1 veteran's sudden death in 2019, has been the subject of criticism throughout the ultra-intense 2021 world championship.
"Being in the footsteps of Charlie Whiting was difficult enough," Wurz, a former F1 driver who is now a motorsport consultant and GPDA chairman, told Speed Week.
Austrian Wurz reportedly travelled to Abu Dhabi with Toto Wolff, who is so upset by Masi's last-lap calls at the 2021 finale that he is still yet to drop an appeal against the outcome.
But Wurz himself is more understanding of the "very difficult position" Masi has been in this year.
"The way the season came to a head was also so difficult," he said.
"The FIA is also in this process of openness and transparency, but I see a very fine line there. If I was them, I would backtrack a bit.
"For these insights into the business between the team bosses and the race management, I would do what Charlie did and not broadcast it," added Wurz.
"It's not much different than it used to be, but the situation has often been precarious this year."
Wurz said Masi actually "didn't do anything wrong" in Abu Dhabi.
"Not with the sporting regulations, not with any contradictions. But there are situations and paragraphs that can be interpreted one way or another," the 47-year-old said.
"That is what resulted in these ambiguous situations. But that has always existed in sport, where referees, who are human, make decisions in fractions of a second.
"Overall, it was an extremely difficult situation for a race director with the pressure of social media and mass media, but I see Michael's performance as extremely solid. He knows the sporting regulations very well."
15 F1 Fan comments on “Alex Wurz defends under-fire race director Masi”
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‘Austrian’
If I were Masi, I would fine Mercedes for poor sportsmanship and Toto for acting like a jerk.
But it’s not a sport. The fia know that better than anybody. Perhaps they could ask Mercedes’ to wear vampire fancy dress next season and put some aero fangs on the car? Just a suggestion.
If I was Masi I'd retire in disgrace before being quitely side lined in disgrace, plenty of time to drink red bull with Max and horner then.
i understand both sides but honestly believe masi did the right thing on the restart
he gets a lot wrong and needs help but that call wasn't one of them
it was just an unfortunate turn of events for MB but that's how the cards fell
MB won multiple races recently by having a 'free' pitstop
the incessant whining to race control needs to stop
Not all team-race director comms get broadcasted anyway, so I don't see a huge issue. Neither do all driver-race engineer ones.
F1 2022
Lewis on radio: where’s Max
Audience as Masi throws his arms in the air theatrically: He’s behind you.
Especially looking forward to trying to win a goldfish at Spa.👏
F1 is run by the FIA and liberty media trying to put on a show and making a piss poor job of it. If you think MM is in charge of the racing go give your head a shake!
smart man, MM was instructed to do it
it's also why twato's dropped the appeal
you can bicker and squabble but pay dearly if you try cross the boss
We should leave Masi alone
I doubt any of us commentors would 🤔 have a clue how to go about directing a highly charged environment such as an F1 race
Referees are always castigated for their decisions if they don't align with your opinions
Let them race, good call
It's not about decisions or opinion it was about following established rules. Via Masi MV and RB cheated their way to a F1 WDC and WCC
To a what? WCC.....?
Type o, just a WDC. Stained F1 for years to come
Nothing to do with opinions or subjective viewpoints he just had to follow established rules, he failed that and handed the WDC to wrong driver. Max must feel a bit cheated too
Nothing to do with opinions.....but, (In Your Opinion) he handed the wdc to the wrong driver, come on F1 ...!!
Good I'm glad thats now all cleared up...