POWER STRUGGLE TO DECIDE MASI FATE

tHE future of Formula One race director Michael Masi will be thrashed out today upon the central question of ‘who rules the sport?’ the Formula One Commission meets in London with the fate of the Australian in doubt following the contentious end to last season in Abu Dhabi, where his decision to withdraw the safety car allowed Max Verstappen to win the title ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Masi’s call disadvantaged Hamilton, who had not taken the opportunity to

move on to new tyres. the Brit kept up a long social media silence in a sense of grievance at the imbroglio. Mercedes have been assured by new FIA president Mohammed ben Sulayem that improved procedures will be in place for the 2022 season. But Masi has enjoyed support from teams other than Mercedes, if not universally so, with drivers such as Sebastian Vettel,

Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo speaking up in his cause. I understand there is a big wrangle between Mercedes and, among others, Verstappen’s Red Bull team and the FIA, which is trying to buttress its position as F1’s arbiters. One insider said: ‘Would the people running football throw out the baby with the bath water over one referee making a doubtful decision?’ Ben Sulayem met F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali for talks last week. Domenicali, it seems, feels Masi should be axed but Ben Sulayem is less sure, believing that jettisoning Masi (left) would be an admission that last year’s World Championship result was a mistake. Ben Sulayem has instead instigated other reforms that he believes address the issue, such as a new race control structure.