FIA president states door open for Masi F1 return

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has stated that the organisation would be open to seeing Michael Masi return in the future.

Masi held the role of F1 Race Director from 2019 to 2021 and left his position following the controversial end to the title battle between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Verstappen overtook Hamilton on the final lap following a Safety Car restart that saw only the lapped cars between the two title protagonists allowed to unlap themselves.

The FIA conducted an investigation into the incident and concluded that “human error” was behind the disputable ending.

Shortly after the conclusion of the 2021 season, Ben Sulayem was elected as the next FIA president, succeeding Jean Todt.

Masi officially left the FIA in July last year and became the Chairman of the Supercars Commission in Australia. He made his first appearance in an F1 paddock since his departure in Melbourne earlier this season.

Ben Sulayem open to Masi return

Speaking to the PA news agency, Ben Sulayem admitted sympathy for Masi and asserted he would be open to a future collaboration with the Australian.

“I always apologise, but I cannot apologise for something which was done before my time,” said Ben Sulayem.

“OK, I will do the apology, but I will bring Michael Masi again. Do you think that is right?

The poor guy is a person who has been attacked and abused. Michael Masi went through hell. Hell!

“And if I see there is an opportunity that the FIA needs and Michael Masi is the right person, I will bring him.

“I even had people threatening me to kill me because I had the power to change it [the result].

“But I said to them: ‘Sorry, the World Cup of 1966, England against Germany, was that correct? Did they change it? No.’ Did they give it to Germany? Nein.”