Michael Masi labelled ‘scapegoat’ as former FIA colleague issues Abu Dhabi 2021 defence
Former FIA colleague Niels Wittich defended Michael Masi’s handling of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, calling him a “scapegoat” for his firing. The controversial race saw Max Verstappen ultimately winning the championship after a series of incidents involving the safety car and lapped cars. Masi’s decision to allow the lapped cars to unlap themselves on the final lap faced scrutiny, but Wittich argued that Masi operated within his authority and the agreed-upon goal of finishing races under green flag conditions. Despite the FIA investigation citing “human error,” Wittich believed Masi did not make significant mistakes and simply followed agreed-upon procedures. The race’s dramatic finish highlighted the complexities and controversies surrounding late safety car interventions in Formula 1.
