It is almost official, Michael Masi has been asked by FIA to step down as the Race director following the controversial finale of the 2021 F1 season.
In a way this was the right thing to do for F1. Though the sport overall tries to glorify the finale or the rounds towards it. In the end F1 has always been seen as a fair fight between teams. Sure we can debate everyday imagining if all the Teams had equal funding whether that could lead to more closer racing. But end of the day the Team who put in their most investment of time and money reap the benefits out of the sport.
But what unfolded at the Final race of 2021 season was not something that the F1 community could digest. Sure there was a lot of excitement and a lot of people were happy that someone other than the usual winners were winning away the Drivers Championship, hell even I jumped up and down my couch after the final lap. But it really hit me after a moment once the adrenaline drowned down that the Race Director had truly robbed Hamilton of a Championship.
It was very strange how Masi executed the rules towards the finals laps of the final race. 5 car between Hamilton and Max were asked to unlap themselves which lead to Max almost side by side to Hamilton. Masi didn't order the same statement to the 3 card behind Max who were also a lap down and had to unlap. This out of the rules execution by Masi made it clear that the intention was to enhance the image of the race and to bring more entertainment into it.
I am no fan of Hamilton and I also need to clarify that there was not even a slight doubt that Max didn't deserve the Championship, both raced their hearts out and were equally deserving. But in the end what is fair needs to be fair and F1 really needed to do this to bring back the trust among its fans around the World. If they let this slip, the consequences could be far drastic in years to come. All it takes is one wrong decision and others to follow it.
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Michael Masi photograph:
www.thefocus.news/sports/motorsport/f1/who-is-michael-masi-roles-of-f1-race-director-explained/