Michael Masi ‘may return to F1’ as Ted Kravitz blasts ex-FIA chief

However, Kravitz slammed the decision and criticised Masi for even attending the Grand Prix. Speaking on Ted’s Notebook, he said: “Michael Masi, the ex-FIA race director, has been in the paddock for the first time since that fateful day in December 2021. 

“And he’s been saying hello to drivers – he hasn’t been saying hello to Mercedes people. I don’t really… well, I do want to get into it, you know I do. But I won’t. What’s he doing in Australia? 

“He’s in charge of the V8 Supercars, the Australian Touring Cars now. But what’s he doing coming back into the Formula One paddock? 

“There are some rumours that Formula One want him back because Niels Wittich needs some help on the FIA race direction side. But that’s not going to happen. What’s Michael Masi doing in the paddock?”

Masi was at the centre of the storm after Max Verstappen won the 2021 Drivers’ Championship in controversial circumstances. After an investigation, the FIA later blamed “human error” for the confusion in Abu Dhabi.

Masi was set to be redeployed in another role at the FIA but decided to walk months later and returned to Australia. 

Lewis Hamilton was asked whether he would meet up with Masi during the race weekend. The Mercedes star lost the chance to secure his eighth world title after Masi’s error.

However, the seven-time champion revealed he had no plans to hold talks with “nothing to say” between the pair. He explained: “I don’t. I am just focused on my future. I am focused on trying to get back to winning. There is nothing to say.”

Hamilton has previously claimed the 2021 season finale had been intentionally tampered with. When asked if his 2007 and 2021 title losses were similar Hamilton responded: “No, it was different, it was different because this one wasn’t manipulated by anybody.

“Someone made a decision for that result to be the way it was basically.”