Where is Michael Masi now and what is he doing as the long-awaited FIA report into the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has finally been released?
97 days after the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the FIA has released its report into the ending of the race.
Race director Michael Masi failed to adhere to the safety car restart rules after Nicholas Latifi’s accident on Lap 53 of 58.
Masi originally said that no lapped cars could overtake, before changing that decision moments later.
He also brought the safety car in at the end of Lap 57 – instead of the end of Lap 58 as is demanded by the rulebook.
The end result was that Max Verstappen had one racing lap to overtake Lewis Hamilton on much fresher tyres for the world championship.
We all know what happened next.
But where is Michael Masi now? What has happened to him after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix?
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Report finds human error a factor
According to the FIA’s report – which can be read in full here – it was simply human error that only five lapped cars – those in-between leader Hamilton and Verstappen P2 were allowed to overtake.
Other noticeable points include the fact that the FIA felt the radio traffic Masi was dealing with from Christian Horner, Jonathan Wheatley and Toto Wolff of Red Bull and Mercedes distracted Masi.
FIA – Team radio has gone for 2022, but the results from Abu Dhabi are not going to be changed. They are final, valid and Verstappen’s place as the 34th F1 world champion is cemented – not that it was ever going to be overturned.
The report found Masi acted in good faith, and his decision to get the race going again was prompted by an informal agreement among the teams and F1/FIA to try and avoid races ending behind the safety car.
Where is Michael Masi now?
Masi, who took over the F1 race director role after the death of long-time director Charlie Whiting (below) at the 2019 Australian Grand Prix still works for the FIA.
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As well as F1 race director, Masi was also F1 safety delegate, inspected new circuits and was involved in the sporting regulations that F1 races by.
He had experience in the Australian Super Cars series and was working alongside Whiting at some grands prix before his passing.
Despite being removed as F1 race director, Masi will focus on his other responsibilities away from the top-level series.
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