Aussie at the centre of thrilling F1 title decider

AUSTRALIAN FIA race director Michael Masi is at the centre of one of the most controversial decisions in Formula One history that occurred late in this season’s title-deciding race in Abu Dhabi.

Just five lapped cars between title rivals Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen – who were first and second respectively at the time – were allowed to pass the safety car following a Nicholas Latifi crash on lap 53.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff was left furious by the decision that resulted in Verstappen overtaking Hamilton in a thrilling final lap after the latter was cruising towards an unprecedented eighth world title.

Award-winning F1 journalist Peter Windsor said Wolff and Mercedes are well within their rights to appeal what he believes was a “bad decision” by Masi.

Mercedes have lodged their intention to appeal the stewards’ decision to reject their protest against the safety car protocol.

“For sure, Mercedes have got a very strong legal case because it was completely incorrect for some of the cars to be allowed to unlap themselves and not others,” Windsor told SEN Breakfast.

“That was a really bad decision I guess is the right way.

“In fairness to Michael Masi, the race director who is an Aussie, I think he’s done an amazing job all-round this year given how difficult his job is. And I think he was under a lot of pressure at that point to try to ensure that the race finished on a racing lap and not behind the safety car.

“I think he got a bit muddled because the bottom line is initially he said the lapped cars were not going to be allowed to unlap themselves, then he said they could, but then only some of them could. That doesn’t add up.

“If you’re a barrister now, you’ll get a hold of that and say, ‘This is not correct’. The bottom line though however to all of this, I think if this was a normal race, there would possibly be a change in the result. But because it’s the championship I think the damage is done now from a Mercedes point of view.

“I just can’t see any way they would give this race a new ending.”

Verstappen, who trailed Hamilton for almost the entire race, took the lead on the fifth turn of the last lap to clinch his maiden F1 world championship and is the first Dutchman to win the title.

– BY ALEX ZAIA/ SEN