Michael Masi removed as F1 race director over Abu Dhabi controversy

Michael Masi has been removed as Formula One race director over his management of the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year, which led to Max Verstappen being controversially crowned world champion.

"Michael Masi, who accomplished a very challenging job for three years as Formula 1 race director following Charlie Whiting, will be offered a new position within the FIA," read a statement by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem on Thursday.

"Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas will act alternatively as Race Director, assisted by Herbie Blash (formerly deputy under Whiting) as permanent senior advisor."

Masi was heavily criticised for the sequence of events that led to Verstappen passing Lewis Hamilton to deprive the Briton of a record eighth title.

Masi's removal – which comes just three years since he was appointed following the death of Whiting prior to the 2019 campaign – elicited sympathy for the Australian official from Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc.

'The right decision'

"I have a lot of respect for Michael for what he has done," said Leclerc at the launch of his car for the 2022 season on Thursday.

"He had a difficult job, especially in Abu Dhabi. Whatever happened it was always going to be controversial. But the FIA has made a decision, has a lot more info and I fully trust it is the right decision."

Sulayem also announced that measures will be introduced to ease the pressure on the race director.

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"Firstly, to assist the race director in the decision-making process, a Virtual Race Control Room will be created. Alike the Video Assistance Referee (VAR) in football, it will be positioned in one of the FIA offices as a backup outside the circuit," said Sulayem.

"In real-time connection with the FIA F1 race director, it will help to apply the sporting regulations using the most modern technological tools."

Sulayem said the mode of communicating with the race director would be different from now on.

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"Direct radio communications during the race, currently broadcast live by all TVs, will be removed in order to protect the race director from any pressure and allow him to take decisions peacefully.

"It will still be possible to ask questions to the race director, according to a well-defined and non-intrusive process."