Rare Abu Dhabi 2021 defence made for ‘scapegoat’ Michael Masi

Former F1 race director Niels Wittich has defended his predecessor Michael Masi’s officiating in the highly-controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Masi served as F1’s race director at the FIA but was dismissed following the controversy surrounding the title-deciding 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Masi’s handling of a late safety car period had a direct impact on the outcome of that year’s world championship and was hugely criticised.

The Australian’s failure to apply the regulations correctly led to Max Verstappen overtaking Lewis Hamilton when the race was restarted for one final lap. Red Bull’s Verstappen snatched victory and claimed his maiden world championship in the process, denying Mercedes’ Hamilton a record eighth drivers’ crown.

But Masi has received some rare support from a fellow former F1 race director Wittich, who followed Masi in the hot seat before stepping down towards the end of the 2024 season.

“From my point of view, Michael didn’t do that much wrong,” Wittich told Formel1.de. “The regulations didn’t strictly define everything. What he did was within his authority. He had a certain level of discretion in how to deploy the safety car.

“One key factor was that teams, FIA, and Formula 1 had all agreed – over many meetings – that races should, if possible, finish under green flag conditions. Nobody wanted a race ending behind the safety car.

“In Abu Dhabi, the situation was such that any intervention would have disadvantaged someone. You could have red-flagged the race – but that requires specific conditions like danger to personnel or a blocked track. That wasn’t the case. So red flag wasn’t really an option.

“Then came the lapped cars question. Initially, he said they wouldn’t unlap themselves, then he allowed it – but modified the usual procedure by not waiting an extra lap. That was within his authority under the regulations at the time.

“He essentially did what everyone had agreed upon: create one final racing lap. It produced a spectacular finish, an overtake, a winner and a runner-up. It could have gone the other way just as easily. That’s sport.

“A late safety car is always controversial. Fans don’t like it if it decides the race – but that applies everywhere. Whether it’s lap one or the final laps, someone gains, someone loses. That’s part of the sport.

“The Abu Dhabi race itself had been quite uneventful until Latifi’s crash. Without that, it would have been a straightforward, perhaps even dull finale. But because of the incident and the intervention, it suddenly became decisive – and that upset one group of fans or the other.

“People later said, ‘You could have red-flagged it, you could have done this or that.’ Yes, you could – but those would have been inconsistent decisions compared to earlier races. And consistency is key.

“In meetings with the teams in early 2022, I asked them directly: ‘Do you want us to red-flag every minor incident?’ They said no. ‘Do you want different rules for the final race?’ Again, no.

“A championship isn’t decided in one race alone. Points lost earlier in the season matter just as much. Both Hamilton and Verstappen had chances to secure the title earlier.”

Masi was the FIA's "scapegoat" 

An inquiry by the FIA found “human error” was responsible for the incorrect application of the rules and Masi was subsequently stood down from the role of race director. He received death threats following the controversy.

“After the investigation following Abu Dhabi, the conclusion seemed to be that Michael had to go – essentially finding a scapegoat,” Wittich continued. 

“What was really disappointing – for me and many colleagues – was the lack of support from the FIA for Michael. That’s something that needs to be clearly criticised. Everyone knew that in extreme situations, you’d be left on your own.

“In the past, under Charlie Whiting, there was always backing from FIA leadership – Max Mosley stood firmly behind him. That support wasn’t there anymore. It still isn’t. That’s one of the reasons I’m no longer a race director in Formula 1.

“Whatever happened, there was no proper discussion, no backing for employees. And that’s the worst takeaway from that whole situation.”

Masi, who continued to work for the FIA until July 2022, now works for Motorsport New Zealand and the NZ Championship.