P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell has suggested dismissed F1 race director Michael Masi would have been “fearing for his life” if Max Verstappen had lost the 2021 F1 drivers’ championship in the manner that Lewis Hamilton did.
At the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, George Russell stirred up past controversies in F1 with Max Verstappen, hinting at tensions. Russell suggested that former race director Michael Masi would have faced serious backlash if Verstappen lost the championship like Lewis Hamilton did in 2021. This brings to light the death threats Masi received for his decisions during the 2021 season finale. The rivalry escalated from Qatar qualifying, involving Mercedes’ Toto Wolff, and Russell feels Verstappen has been given undue leeway by the FIA. While Russell sees Verstappen’s actions as self-correcting, he commends recent FIA interventions and expects no major changes in handling such incidents going forward.
