Ex-Method One race director Michael Masi has ‘signed a NDA’ over occasions in Abu Dhabi final yr

Former F1 race director Michael Masi has reportedly signed a non-disclosure settlement with the FIA to by no means talk about the controversial ending to final season’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. 

The settlement has left followers extremely suspicious, leaving query marks surrounding the race through which Masi oversaw as race director. It was his choices that led to Max Verstappen claiming his first world title underneath a black cloud because of his calls.

Heading in the direction of the ultimate laps of the ultimate race in final December, Masi made the choice to permit the 5 vehicles separating race chief Lewis Hamilton and Verstappen to unlap themselves behind a security automobile. 

It arrange a ultimate lap standoff between the 2 rivals which Verstappen, who had a lot brisker tyres, received to safe the championship. Leaving rivals Mercedes and Pink Bull to confrontations and distracting radio messages to the Australian race director. 

Masi’s ‘human error’ of permitting solely these 5 vehicles the power to unlap themselves, has now been modified within the rulebook for the present season. 

Australia’s Day by day Telegraph have now reported on the NDA as a part of a brand new interview with Masi, who was sacked from his place in the beginning of the 2022 season. 

Due to Masi’s choices Max Verstappen claimed his first F1 World Championship in 2021

Within the interview the 44-year-old admits it took time for him to recover from the ‘Decider within the desert’ however that the incident has made him stronger. 

‘It took me some time to course of all of it,’ Masi stated.

‘However on the finish of the day I assumed it was greatest for me to return again house and be near my help community.

‘I did not go and discuss to an expert. With the good thing about hindsight, I most likely ought to have. I ought to have gone and spoken to somebody in an expert sense. However in saying that, I had some wonderful individuals round me that might see it and had been checking in day by day. I used to be tremendous lucky to have that help community.’

Masi initially stayed on the FIA earlier than quitting the governing physique to maneuver again to Australia 

Masi can not discuss in regards to the determination he made in Abu Dhabi attributable to Non-Disclosure Agreements with the FIA – however he can discuss in regards to the future.

‘The entire expertise has made me a a lot stronger individual,’ Masi stated. ‘I’ve simply had the longest break in my skilled profession and I’ve used the time to reconnect with household and buddies. I’ve additionally finished all that self-maintenance which you’ll neglect if you find yourself within the grind.

‘I’ve quite a few thrilling choices going ahead. I’m contemplating quite a few completely different tasks, each home and globally. 

My intention is to base myself out of Australia and to make use of all the abilities I’ve gained in what has been an unimaginable journey up to now and one I’m extraordinarily proud and grateful for.’

It was Masi’s determination making on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix final season which noticed him sacked after ‘human error’ arrange a final lap shootout between Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton

The signing of the NDA solely reinforces the suspicions followers have had over the incidents in Dubai that led to Verstappen’s World Title win. 

The controversy got here after Nicholas Latifi’s crash with just some laps to go. It noticed complaints made by Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes crew in regards to the deserves of the Dutchman’s win. 

They first accused Verstappen of briefly overtaking underneath security automobile circumstances, which was dismissed, however had a much bigger criticism when Masi modified the security automobile re-start process on the finish of the race. 

That call handed the championship to Pink Bull driver, and prevented Hamilton from a document eighth world crown. 

Australian Masi later acquired loss of life threats and a torrent of abuse throughout social media due to the calls he made within the Abu Dhabi finale.