Mercedes team boss says he did not force Masi sacking
Feb.21 - Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes did not use threats to see Michael Masi removed as Formula 1 race director.
That was the insistence of team boss Toto Wolff, as Hamilton's retirement threats subsided by his appearance at the launch of Mercedes' new car for 2022 - the silver W13.
The event came after Wolff dropped Mercedes' intention to officially appeal the outcome of the 2021 world championship over Australian Masi's handling of the Abu Dhabi finale.
"The connection between the withdrawal of our complaint and anyone's departure from the FIA is not true," Wolff insisted.
"I don't know where these allegations come from."
Dutch F1 GP boss Jan Lammers, however, says new FIA president Mohammed bin Sulayem's restructuring - including the sacking of Masi - "looks a bit like a sacrifice".
"The Hamilton fan will say 'see!'," he told NOS. "But I think the one who made the decisions also had the authority to make those decisions, however controversial they were.
"It's just much, much better now that five or six people are involved so that the rules are always followed."
Wolff agrees that the FIA's changes were "necessary" as the outcome marred an otherwise "excellent season".
And when asked by the German broadcaster RTL if he is sorry to see Masi go, Wolff admitted: "No."
As for Hamilton, he played a straight bat when asked about the controversy by denying that he actually ever threatened to quit F1 amid his post-Abu Dhabi silence.
"I never, ever said that I was going to stop. I love doing what I do," said the 37-year-old, although he admits he has contemplated retirement "so many times".
"It was obviously a difficult time for me, and it was a time where I really needed to take a step back and focus on being present. I eventually got to a point where I decided I was going to be attacking coming into another season, and working with Toto and George (Russell)," added Hamilton.
The seven time world champion also backed the FIA's changes.
"We have to use this moment to make sure that this never happens to anybody else in the sport ever again," said Hamilton.
"Everything that's been said by the FIA, I welcome that but we have to make sure that we keep a close eye and make sure that we actually are seeing those changes."
He added that the announcement, however, is the "first step" in rebuilding all of the "faith and trust" that he had previously had in the FIA.
"But that doesn't necessarily change everything just yet," said Hamilton. "We have to see actual action. And I think it will take a bit of time."
Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher thinks political pressure, including that applied by Wolff and Hamilton, compelled the FIA to act regarding Masi's position.
"Mercedes lost a lot that day," he told Sky Deutschland. "I personally think the decision is a shame because Masi was a good race director.
"But I can well imagine that there was a lot of pressure on the FIA to set an example. Maybe they could have changed the structure with Masi, but apparently the trenches were just too deep."
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"I don't know where these allegations come from." Really? The whiny 'lil bitch, who begged Masi "pleeeeeeeze Michael, don't give us a safety car" on the radio for the entire f'ing world to hear, now professes not to "know where these allegations come from" - and he expects anyone other than the most deaf, dumb and blind Merc/hamster fans to believe him for one moment - really? What a lying piece of dog excrement, or should I say wolf excrement?
Go on my son you tell UM,!!
Its obvious , that Toto and Lewis have changed Tack with there comments, to the media, is it all forgotten/move on mmmm it seems like the media wont let them., so now its racing time nearly..lol, Crybaby has a big problem, if he doesn't regain his crown this yr, hes just going to be a past wdc in it just for the money, do we buy all this , take time to reflect bullshit, i don't seem to remember any when Nico apparently got "Lucky" with his wdc .
Masi may as well join the RB team officially now. Everyone with an ounce of f1 knowledge knows Masi broke the rules to stop LH winning and he should have been sacked on the spot. Only the LH hate mob would say otherwise.
f1award: uh, no -the "rules" in effect gave Masi precisely the discretion to do precisely what he did - don't like it? Join the crybaby, whiny 'lil bitch crowd!
So when the Fia changed the engine rules, in 2019 with claims that Ferrari cheated/altered there engine, who were they helping there?, yep you got it BabyLewis and UncleToto
You cant have it both ways with the Fia helping CryBaby to win over Ferrari, and then say Fia (Employee) Masi broke the rules to help RB win...!
Get a grip F1
There’s one team acting divisively; Mercedes is claiming to support diversity but has a Team director who is intolerant as can be. Wolff is not the person he wants us to believe he is. Andretti intends to enter the sport; ‘no way,’ Wolff says. Masi taken away his job; ‘not us,’ Toto says.
Hypocrisy is never far away in Toto Wolff’s comments. He’s more likely a politician than a sportsman.
After f1 for toto , hell be on Bod of Merc or President Fia, nothing so sure
Oh how sweet it is! To witness the power of strategic silence by the Merc boss Sir Lewis in getting not one, but two senior officials kicked out on their asses. While also not incurring a penalty for non attendance of the prize giving ceremony for the lucky champ. Lol. Ya love to see it.
Good riddance to moron Masi.
Hey Adrian the Roach, you're officially this forum's new whiny little bitch mascot. 😂 Congratulations.
Hey Jax, we have a saying here in the US "cheaters never prosper" - your support of Toto the crybaby and the hamster blinds you to the truth - Masi was right and most agree with that - yes, is Merc the 600lb gorilla of F1 currently, sure - but what goes up must eventually come down. I suspect far more agree with me than with you, so kindly go "jack off."
hampster & toto are just sore losers fact! and disagree with everything F1 if it doesn't suit them fact!
Yeah right!