F1

F1 fan favourite Martin Brundle claims Michael Masi’s position is ‘untenable’ after ‘really uncomfortable’ audio from last season’s controversial season finale came to light.The FIA are now investigating after race director Masi was heard acting on Red Bull’s suggestions at Abu Dhabi, allowing Max Verstappen to overtake Lewis Hamilton on the final lap and win his first-ever title.
Martin Brundle believes Michael Masi’s position as F1 race director is ‘untenable’Credit: Getty
As Verstappen’s hopes slipped away while stuck behind lapped cars and a safety vehicle, Red Bull chief Jonathan Wheatley said to Masi on the radio: “Obviously those lapped cars, you don’t need to let them go right away round and catch up with the back of the pack.”
Masi replied ‘understood’ before Wheatley continued: “You need to let them go and then we got a motor race on our hands.”
Masi again said: “Understood, just give me a second.”
Wheatley is then heard speaking directly to Verstappen, saying: “We think all the cars ahead of you are going to pass Hamilton, everybody behind you will stay in position.”
Fans of Mercedes ace Hamilton have now reacted angrily to the exchange, and Sky Sports’ Brundle believes Masi will struggle to stay in his job as a result.
Brundle said: “Let’s not assume it’s giving Masi information he didn’t already know in terms of what he could and couldn’t do in terms of the lapped pack.
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“Of course it’s really uncomfortable, and a lot of people are unhappy: Hamilton fans, Mercedes fans.
“Hugely unacceptable. I met so many fans that were new to Formula 1 last year particularly, and fans in general, that were hugely upset by what happened.
“We cannot – and we know it’s going to change – have teams getting at the referee while he’s trying to make critical decisions with cars on the track and marshals and breakdown vehicles.
“I made a comment that changing Masi won’t fix the problem, meaning that it’s way too big a job for one person.
“That doesn’t mean to say I’m in full support for Masi. I think he’ll struggle to keep that position.
“The trouble is that the spotlight will be on him, and every single decision will be analysed.
“What happens if Lewis is up for a penalty? Will he be lenient on that? I think he’s in an untenable situation.
“You can’t unravel the result. Red Bull did nothing wrong, and Ferrari did nothing wrong in third place for example. You can’t penalise them.
“The FIA can only penalise themselves for getting it wrong on the day. Masi got it wrong, due to a lot of circumstances.”
The new season starts with the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 20.
In the meantime, teams have started to launch their 2022 cars with Verstappen’s Red Bull among them. More

RED BULL have been dragged into a fresh row over Max Verstappen’s controversial F1 title win.Lewis Hamilton’s army of fans reacted with renewed fury after the race conversation between Red Bull’s sporting director Jonathan Wheatley and F1 race director Michael Masi emerged on Wednesday.
Michael Masi’s position as F1 race director is growing under increasing pressureCredit: Getty
Red Bull influenced Masi’s decision to let the lapped cars overtake Lewis HamiltonCredit: Getty
The FIA governing body are investigating Masi’s actions during the final race of last season in Abu Dhabi when he failed to follow safety car rules — resulting in Verstappen beating Hamilton to the title.
Wheatley is heard telling Masi: “Those lapped cars — you don’t need to let them go right the way around and catch up with the back of the pack.
“You only need to let them go and then we’ve got a motor race on our hands.”
Masi replies: “Understood.” He then follows the suggestion.
To add insult to injury for disgruntled Mercedes, after their boss Toto Wolff complained about the result, he said: “Toto, it’s called a motor race, OK?”
The FIA has access to all radio communication from the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and will release their findings at a meeting of the F1 commission next Monday.
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According to the BBC, figures within the FIA understand Masi failed to follow his own rules correctly and that resulted in Verstappen snatching the title.
And there is said to be a growing belief that such a mishap makes Masi’s positon as race director untenable.
Meanwhile, Red Bull have launched their car and title sponsor Oracle, who are understood to be paying the team £369million over five years.
Verstappen warmed up for pre-season testing in Barcelona earlier this month by hitting the slopes in his F1 motor.
He took on former European ice speedway champion Franky Zorn in an exhibition race held at Zell am See in Austria. More

LEWIS HAMILTON had ‘one hand tied behind his back’ and was denied a ‘clean fight’ against Max Verstappen, according to his former Red Bull rival Mark Webber. The British superstar was on course for a record-breaking eighth Formula One world championship title.
Lewis Hamilton was pipped by Max Verstappen in devastating fashion in the 2021 F1 finaleCredit: Alamy
But race director Michael Masi’s decision to rip up the rulebook and bow to Red Bull’s demands saw Verstappen overtake Hamilton on the final lap of the season to snatch the crown.
And Webber, who won nine races in his 12-year F1 career, believes the Brit was unfairly treated.
The Aussie told Wide World of Sport: “For the sport we were all disappointed it ended like that, it’s not how we wanted it to end.
“Both of them deserved to lift that trophy, but we did not want it to finish like that at all.
“We wanted a straight fight, a clean fight, and unfortunately there was one guy with his hand tied behind his back.
“Of course in hindsight they would all agree we could have done something different, what happened wasn’t the ideal scenario.”
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Hamilton and Mercedes chief Toto Wolff were left gobsmacked by Masi’s decision to make only the five drivers ahead of Verstappen unlap themselves, allowing the Dutchman to catch back up to Hamilton and set up a showdown sprint.
Audio footage from the dramatic Abu Dhabi finale emerged with Masi appearing to act on the instructions of Red Bull chief Jonathan Wheatley without any question.
However, there are set to be no more similar incidents as 2022 rule changes prevent teams from speaking to the race director.
Ross Brawn said: “We will stop this contact next year.
“It is not acceptable that the team bosses put Michael under such pressure during the race.
“Toto Wolff cannot demand that a safety car should not come, and Christian Horner cannot demand that the cars have to lap back.
“That is at the discretion of the race director.”

The controversial end to the 2021 season led to speculation Hamilton would retire during the winter break – especially after his long social media silence.
However, after some time away to clear his head, the Stevenage hero returned to Mercedes’ HQ on Tuesday to take his first look at his new car.
His new team-mate George Russell headed to Brackley on Monday as their preparations begin for the 2022 season which starts in Bahrain on March 20.
Verstappen went past Hamilton with fresh soft tyres on the last lap to secure the titleCredit: Getty
Mark Webber, right, defended Hamilton, centre, despite his Red Bull pastCredit: Action Images – Reuters More

RED BULL have signed a huge £369million sponsorship deal which will see their team name changed for the new Formula One season.The five-year deal signed with Oracle will see the team be known as Oracle Red Bull Racing.
Red Bull have unveiled their new car for the upcoming F1 seasonCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
Red Bull have signed a huge deal with Oracle and will be called Oracle Red Bull RacingCredit: Getty
The agreement with the tech firm is one of the most lucrative in global sport, says AP.
And fans of world champion Max Verstappen also got look at Red Bull’s new car on Wednesday.
The Dutchman will take his new vehicle out for pre-season testing in Barcelona later this month.
And revealing his first impressions, Verstappen said: “It looks a bit different, but at the end of the day it’s still a Formula One car. 
“At testing we can do a lot of laps and get a lot of information about the car, which is important. I’m looking forward to it.”
As for Red Bull’s new partnership with Oracle, chief Christian Horner believes it comes at an ideal time due to the new season cost cap of £107m for F1 teams.
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Max Verstappen has already delivered his first thoughts on the new carCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
Sergio Perez and Verstappen will get to properly try out the new motor later this monthCredit: Getty
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Horner told AP: “We’re all about speed and the speed of response.
“We’re pushing the Oracle technical guys. But they’re responding in the best possible way. And that’s what makes this partnership very exciting.
“We’ve got a brand new set of regulations, a new technical challenge.
“We’ve got financial regulations that are driving and forcing efficiency, which is again where this partnership helps us to make sure that we’re as efficient and productive as we possibly can be.”
Meanwhile, fresh audio has emerged of the final minutes of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
And it included the moment race director Michael Masi appears to obey Red Bull orders, allowing Verstappen to catch Lewis Hamilton on the final lap and overtake him to win the title.
Christian Horner is a big fan of the new agreementCredit: Getty
Oracle come on board for Red Bull at the same time as a new season cost capCredit: Getty More

THE 2022 F1 season is nearly upon us with the controversy surrounding the 2021 finale STILL swirling.Max Verstappen edged Lewis Hamilton to the crown with a thrilling final-lap overtake.

Lewis Hamilton will earn more than DOUBLE that of F1 title rival Max Verstappen in 2022Credit: Getty
But questions are still being asked about the bizarre decision from F1 race director Michael Masi in Abu Dhabi.
The controversial finale saw Hamilton quit social media for over a month with questions marks over his future.
But the seven-time world champion, 37, reported for duty at Mercedes HQ earlier this week to all-but end the speculation.
With that news, the grid for the 2022 season appears to be concrete.
And yet again, Hamilton is far and away the top-paid driver on the grid.
The Brit star rakes in a staggering £40m per year from Mercedes – more than DOUBLE his nearest rival.
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Reigning champion Verstappen, 24, earns £18.2m a year from Red Bull.
And McLaren star Lando Norris comes in third after signing a new bumper four-year contract.
Norris, 22, will take home £10.5m per year – more than Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and McLaren veteran Daniel Ricciardo (both £10.19m).
Ferrari ace Carlos Sainz and Aston Martin star Sebastian Vettel both earn £7.28m per year on their current deals.
Alpine’s legendary racer Fernando Alonso sits eight with an annual salary of £6.55m.
Red Bull whiz Sergio Perez (£4.5m) and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon (£4m) complete the top ten.
Lando Norris has risen to third in the list of top-paid F1 stars after signing a new McLaren dealCredit: AFP More