Michael Masi’s friend reveals F1 race director’s reaction to brutal sacking

Michael Masi was fired from his position as F1 racing director earlier this month amid controversy surrounding last season’s final race in Abu Dhabi.

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Lewis Hamilton refuses to let the controversial end of 2021 season ‘define’ his career

Michael Masi has shown his ‘great resilience’ after being fired from his position as FIA race director.

Last week, Masi confirmed that Masi would be stepping down from the role he assumed in 2019, amid defeat from last year’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Masi has yet to publicly talk about his departure, but Eugene Arocca, CEO of Motorsport Australia, revealed that he has been in contact with his compatriot and received a response.

“He’s a personal friend,” Arocca said. “I’ve known him since he was involved in motorsport, 10 years ago. We became good friends.

“Personally, I was really disappointed and horrified to have to witness what happened. It was a tortuous two or three months of discussion, debate, criticism, broadcasting of public opinion.

“You have to have a pretty thick layer of closed skin to be able to withstand all that and walk out the other end feeling fine.

“Based on the fact that he responded this morning, and he’s obviously pretty flat, he’s a man of great resilience.”

Meanwhile, Red Bull chief Christian Horner said the sacking of Masi was harsh and criticized the external pressure that led to the FIA’s decision to remove the Australian.

“It is a difficulty. That’s the FIA’s business. I think it is harsh. I think he was in a very difficult position last year,” Horner said talkSPORT .

“I just think there was too much pressure to get rid of Michael and it just wasn’t right. That is my personal feeling.”

On the controversial way Red Bull driver Max Verstappen won the world title, Horner added: “It was a tense period. You have to look at the season over 22 races. We had a lot of decisions that went against us earlier in the year and penalties were not given etc.

“We had a bit of luck at the end of the game and sometimes that happens in sport, it’s not over until the whistle goes or the flag falls.

“Tactically, we were very sharp at the last moment. When the collision happened five laps late, we reacted immediately.

“We brought Max in, pitted him against him for a new set of tyres, Mercedes let Lewis use the 44 lap tires towards the end of their lives.

“Max had to get through the last lap, which he did. There has been some lurking around the controversy.

“The bottom line is that tactically, we did the right thing. Max made the move and became the world champion. ”