Mar.3 - Lewis Hamilton's "behaviour" contributed to ousted F1 race director Michael Masi being "sacrificed".

That is the view of Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko, whose driver Max Verstappen became world champion last year after a highly controversial call by Masi in the dying moments of the 2021 season.

Austrian Marko, 78, claims Mercedes' Hamilton benefited from other contentious Masi decisions last year - but none of them resulted in Red Bull calling for the Australian's sacking.

"You have to look at his work over the years," he told the German broadcaster RTL.

Instead, Marko believes F1 and the governing FIA acted to appease public sentiment - particularly as seven time world champion Hamilton was apparently toying with retirement over the winter.

"There were clear indications that Hamilton would not stop," Marko insists. "There was no movement in the driver market.

"If Hamilton had told Mercedes that he would take a step back, they would have quickly started looking for a replacement. But that wasn't the case.

"With his silence, he just wanted to show his dissatisfaction with the situation and with the decisions. Some of that behaviour led to Masi being fired from his position and I don't think that's right.

"If Masi had all these new tools that are coming in now - the VAR and an advisor - it would have been easier for him to decide," said Marko.

"Now, we'll have to see if the planned steps really work that well after all."


✅ Check out more posts with related topics:

33 F1 Fan comments on “Hamilton 'behaviour' led to Masi axe according Marko

  1. Jax

    Slander and calumny I say. Marko has no proof I tell you....none. Pure speculation. Would never hold up in court. Defamation of character this is.
    Wink😉😄

    Reply
    • Jax

      Quote: "Team boss Christian Horner also called his exit "harsh", claiming there was "an awful lot of pressure" put on the FIA to replace Masi and also revealing Red Bull WAS THE ONLY TEAM to speak in support of him at the recent F1 Commission meeting."
      So not one other team supported Masi staying on huh? How interesting. Yet according to some Max fans, Masi did nothing wrong. Hmm

      Reply
  2. ReallyOldRacer

    Masi's bad judgement got him axed, not the knight's sulking whine. Red flag, reset and have a 5 lap go, or leave it alone and finish under yellow. Those were the choices. He chose a stupid hybrid path and got himself sacked.

    The doc has a soapbox and uses it well.

    Reply
      • ReallyOldRacer

        Best guess is horny and the doc when flashman flames. Second place. the knight who can't find the daylight. Maybe equal billing. Your vote?

        Reply
      • DaGriff

        I think it would have been interesting to keep Maasai and then give him all the new tools, as Dr. Suggested, then you could see if he was truly overwhelmed with the things he needed to do or if he simply lacked the tools and support. Now we’ll never know. If things do change then it will be easy to blame Massi and say he was bad at his job, because people won’t consider that the environment the race director is in will have changed. So we’re not really comparing apple to apples.

        Reply
        • ReallyOldRacer

          How the hell did Charlie handle it for two decades? The position is no more complicated now than it was during his tenure. RIP Mr. Whiting.

          Management by committee seldom works. Assistants, yes, but we need one person responsible for decisions.

          Reply
          • shroppyfly

            Interview with Masi June 21

            Masi has also clarified that, when it comes to the stewards making decisions, the team to FIA radio does not have an influence.

            "The stewards don't actually hear any of those communications between myself and the teams, and don't hear the commentary of the races either," Masi said. "So they're not aware of that side of it in any way, shape or form."

            I never knew they didn't hear the commentary..!

        • Simon Kent

          Christian Horner obviously! He can’t help himself! Max didn’t deserve to win the world title! Anyone who watched the race in Abu Dhabi and has any common sense knows that! Micheal Massi was a complete prat in that race! He made a decision and then reversed it on the last lap of the race!
          You could be forgiven for thinking that red bull payed him for the race result.

          Reply
          • shroppyfly

            Based on the WHOLE season which is, after all how a championship is won.. , i think most say he did deserve it, most poles , most wins, most laps led , but tbf i'm just stirring it lol

            I notice the uk sky f1 pundits are all saying Hamster will blitz Max this year, mmmm lets see shall we

          • Blowfly

            I’ii go with that, funny how Horner said it would take a miracle to win.........and then he did!!! After Johnathon gave Masi his instructions. No surprise at that RB stickup for Masi.
            Blame everyone else,it’s a great diversionary tactic to take the pressure off yourself.

    • Jax

      Ha...Well said there Old muppet fella. But the optics of Sir Lewis having an influence is pure icing on the cake. So may the perception keep flourishing to his benefit. 👌

      Reply
    • Jere Jyrälä

      Another choice was simply starting the final lap under green-flag conditions, but with all lapped drivers still in the mix.

      Reply
  3. Donalf

    Whilst everyone is still going on about Massi, have you noticed that that Toto wolfe has started whining already before the season has started, this time it's ferrari"s engine that is showing signs of it being superior to mercedes,. Well at least it takes it off of Horner and red B.

    Reply
  4. Blowfly

    Poor old Helmet seems to be confusing himself. In one sentence he says it was obvious that Hammy was not retiring, in another that he influenced the FIA in sacking Masi by not doing or saying anything.
    Helmet is perfectly named, he is a knob head.
    In reality R B have lost their control over the race director. God help RB if the new team take away Maxy’s barging rights.

    Reply
  5. shroppyfly

    Blowfly said on March 9, 2022 at 11:27
    I’ii go with that, funny how Horner said it would take a miracle to win.........and then he did!!! After Johnathon gave Masi his instructions. No surprise at that RB stickup for Masi.
    Blame everyone else,it’s a great diversionary tactic to take the pressure off yourself.

    What pressure was on RB?, Merc had all the pressure, with having the best driver, the best car, the best engineers, the most money and as reigning champions in WDC and WCC a reputation to lose..!

    RB had none of that,Oh apart from having the RD in there pocket allegedly, erm and still they won.

    The case for the prosecution, against the deluded Hamgirl fans rests your honour .

    Reply
      • Blowfly

        Part of the tool kit of a world champ, ask Alonso or Schumaker, can’t be helped, ‘ it is what it is’ to coin a phrase.
        Max still has a lot to learn and he’ found a girl, his days are numbered. That’s my prediction, i’d go with the girl every time, lulus biggest mistake.

        Reply

  6. ✅ Checkout the latest 50 F1 Fans comments.

What's your F1 fan opinion?

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Please follow our commenting guidelines.