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Lammers does not rule out that Masi left on his own initiative

17 February 2022 at 18:14
Last update 17 February 2022 at 18:42
  • GPblog.com

We will not see Michael Masi back in Formula 1 next season. At least, not in the foreground as in the position of race director. The FIA has decided to appoint Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas as the new race directors from 2022 onwards. Jan Lammers, however, does not dare to say with one hundred percent certainty that Masi has actually been fired.

According to the former Formula 1 driver, it is also possible that Masi has kept the honour to himself. In conversation with Motorsport.com Lammers says that it could also have been the case that the FIA presented the new structure to Masi and that he simply did not agree with it.

There are sounds that Masi is going to be accommodated in another role within the FIA. Sky Sports recently reported that it would possibly be a function related to safety. Whether the Australian still sees a future for himself within the international motorsport federation is still uncertain.

Masi's departure not the only measure

The departure of Masi as race director is one of the four structural changes that the FIA presented to the outside world on Thursday afternoon. From 2022 onwards there will also be some sort of VAR at the highest level of motorsport, the rules regarding 'unlapping' may be revised and direct radio contact between team bosses and race director will not be possible.