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Mercedes boss Toto Wolff takes another swipe at Masi saying axed F1 race director was ‘turned’ by Red Bull ‘bromance’

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TOTO WOLFF claims controversial F1 race director Michael Masi was ‘turned’ by Red Bull at the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

Masi has since been axed from the role following an internal investigation by the FIA into his handling of the race.

Mercedes chief Toto Wolff has once again hit out at former F1 race director Michael MasiCredit: Alamy
Masi was axed following an investigation into his handling of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in DecemberCredit: Getty

The Aussie failed to follow safety car rules which set up a one-lap showdown back in December.

Race leader Lewis Hamilton was a sitting duck on old tyres and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen blasted his way past to take the win and the title.

Wolff, Hamilton and the Mercedes team were furious and the Austrian is still livid at the outcome of the championship.

Speaking on a Sky F1 documentary to air their Sunday, Wolff also says that a “bromance” helped Verstappen win.

Masi made a ‘deal’ with Red Bull’s sporting director Jonathan Wheatley over restart grid positions in Saudi Arabia.

He also changed his mind over Safety Car rules amid Red Bull protests in Abu Dhabi.

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen pipped Lewis Hamilton to the F1 world title in controversial fashionCredit: Getty

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Wolff describes Masi and Wheatley’s relationship as a “bromance” and says: “Jonathan Wheatley has done his job.

“He’s turned Michael Masi the race director, not only in Abu Dhabi but before, and probably Max owes him a lot.”

Masi is understood to be upset at the FIA’s handling of the situation while Wolff says it is not time to move on.

He added: “I haven’t spoken to him and I don’t want to speak to him ever again. His decisions were wrong and I’m sure that he regrets them.

“The FIA should have seen much earlier that there was a problem.

“There was a problem with the structure. There was a problem of personalities.”

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Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk

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