Formula 1 Abu Dhabi GP
Seidl: Masi’s tricky role in intense F1 title battle needs to be understood
McLaren boss Andreas Seidl says that the difficulties of being F1 race director amid an intense title battle need to be appreciated amid intense focus on the job Michael Masi has done.
Adam Cooper Filip Cleeren
Edited: Dec 26, 2021, 3:11 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Masi has faced a barrage of criticism for the way the race was restarted after the late safety car for a one-lap sprint to the flag, which saw Max Verstappen overtake Lewis Hamilton and claim the World Championship.
The dramatic finale to the 2021 season came after a series of calls on racing incidents and other matters that have put a spotlight on how race control operates.
Seidl said he was happy with the way Masi dealt with the teams, stressing that the job was a “tricky” one.
He also suggested that it wasn’t fair to judge Masi solely in the context of the “intense battle” for this year’s world championship.
“From our point of view without commenting now on what happened [in Abu Dhabi] we appreciate the open and transparent dialogue we had all year, and also in previous years with Michael,” said Seidl.
“And we were really happy also with the way how he is dealing with things, not just with us but in general, with all the teams in the paddock.
“So I think we need to be very careful that this intense battle for the championship, which was very intense on and off-track, that triggered obviously a lot of heated comments as well, is not giving the wrong picture also of the reality.
“Again from our point of view, we’re very happy with how Michael is dealing with us, he’s asking for our input, always has an open ear for improvements as well. That’s how I see it.”
Andreas Seidl, Team Principal, McLaren
Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
Seidl also addressed suggestions that Masi’s late predecessor Charlie Whiting did a better job, with Red Bull boss Christian Horner having suggested in Saudi Arabia that the latter was missed.
“I think it’s also not fair to make comments like in the past everything was different and better. I think it is good now, and it was good in the past.
“It is a very tricky job to be race director in such an intense battle that we have seen this year. I think that is something you need to keep in mind.”
Read Also:
- Why the FIA must not bury its head in the sand over Abu Dhabi F1 fallout
- Red Bull: F1 needs rules rethink after Abu Dhabi controversy
- Verstappen serene over Abu Dhabi F1 fallout as Red Bull ‘did nothing wrong’
Former world champion and GPDA director Sebastian Vettel suggested that it was wrong to compare FIA decisions taken this year with those made in the past.
“I think everybody has an opinion,” said the German. “I think leave the stewards alone, it's tough enough as is. Ideally we'd like more consistency, but there's also a human side.
“So it's probably difficult to get it 100% right. But it has to be our target, so we need to see what we can improve.
“But I don't think it has been any better or any worse than in the past, with the exception of the fines for reprimands in terms of cash. I don't know, that's just unnecessary.
"I think it looks stupid to ask 10,000, 50,000, 25,000. I would like to see the receipt, what happens with the money!”
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Sainz "couldn’t have asked for more" to end first Ferrari season
Next article Hamilton receives knighthood in ceremony at Windsor Castle
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Adam Cooper
RB: Tsunoda “mentally on a different level” in 2024
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Apr 10, 2024
RB: Tsunoda “mentally on a different level” in 2024
Andretti planning F2 and F3 entries to promote US talent to F1 team
Formula 1
Formula 1 Apr 10, 2024
Andretti planning F2 and F3 entries to promote US talent to F1 team
Andretti F1 team formally opens new Silverstone facility
Formula 1
Formula 1 Apr 10, 2024
Andretti F1 team formally opens new Silverstone facility
Latest news
Sebastien Bourdais hopes latest WEC success will remind teams of his value
WEC
WEC WEC
Monza
Sebastien Bourdais hopes latest WEC success will remind teams of his value
"It's horribly painful" - Williams drops 2026 car upgrades to benefit 2027
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 h
"It's horribly painful" - Williams drops 2026 car upgrades to benefit 2027
Iker Lecuona felt significant differences between Ducati's GP25 and GP26
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
2 h
Iker Lecuona felt significant differences between Ducati's GP25 and GP26
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe