Should F1 bring Masi back after Monza fizzer?
Sep.13 - Formula 1 should consider reinstating its axed race director Michael Masi.
That is the view of well-known Russian F1 commentator Alexey Popov, as the Italian media slammed the way Masi's successors handled the end of the race at Monza last Sunday.
"The centenary grand prix should not have ended like this," La Gazzetta dello Sport proclaimed. "It has done serious damage to the reputation of Formula 1."
The safety car on track after Daniel Ricciardo's McLaren broke down and was hard to recover by the marshals.
The Corriere della Sera editorial added: "100 years of racing and we see Formula 1 cars queued up at the fastest circuit - how sad!
"People who waited hours to see the grand prix of the century were faced with this embarrassment."
Popov, who works for Russian broadcaster Match TV, said: "For all those who criticised Masi, red flagging a race as he did in Baku was his initiative. We saw a restart and a two-lap fight.
"The famous restart in Abu Dhabi, yes it turned the championship around, but still he wanted the people to see a race. Sometimes, you can neglect the formalities for a race.
"I say it again - we should bring Masi back," Popov added.
In reality, Masi has now returned to his native Australia to be chairman of the Supercars Commission - the country's top category of domestic motor racing.
He was replaced in F1 this year by new joint race directors Eduardo Freitas and Neils Wittich, who are now under fire for allowing the end of the Italian GP to fizzle behind a protracted safety car period.
"I think it's especially sad for the tens of thousands of people who bought very expensive tickets," 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve told the Dutch publication Formule 1.
"They didn't see a show, no finish - really nothing at all. We wanted more, and we didn't get it. The mismanagement of the race has already not been great this year, but this was even worse.
"A race should never, ever end behind the safety car," Villeneuve added. "So many things could have been done differently - a red flag, letting the lapped cars past sooner. There was enough time.
"It made me realise that last year wasn't that bad. Mistakes were made, but the intention was always to get back to racing as soon as possible. In Monza, it seemed like it wasn't important, which was amazing to see."
Russian Popov agrees, surmising that the race director was paralysed by the 2021 Abu Dhabi controversy and the need to follow the rules to the letter.
"It would have been strange to do otherwise, given the whole (Abu Dhabi) scandal," he said. "They were trapped by their own mistake.
"They removed Masi and said they would live by the rules, so it would have been strange to do otherwise. But I think we need to be more flexible."
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Hahaha, that's the text of Leclerc!
Good imitation of Tontosser
Definitely, no, LOL.
Wittich & Freitas have fared better overall + Masi caused too much damage under his tenure for a return to be feasible.
Having said that Masi gave us a more exciting finish at Abu Dhabi than this last Italian finish, you have to agree, bit of a damp sqid.,, racing is all about the challenge, excitement, the unusual happenings we shall never forget Abu Dhabi that's for sure, I've already forgotten the last race,, where was it again. "bring back Masi"
ffs is there no one better?
time to start looking beyond the tribe for new hires then
I wonder what Charlie Whiting would have done...
We know what Charlie did , he gave the OK for Masi 2b his No 2, not these couple of muppets, being billed as experienced and proficient, Say no more than, Bring Back Masi, now hes been on a refresher course, if only to hear the grinding of teeth from Toto, who I have to say is looking decidedly tired
Maybe outside talent is needed. Free from intimidation of team principles, drama queen drivers and the ever present mob rule. Think there are enough earnest driving fans to weather the pouting, whining fans who will find some other sport to rail against.
The issue is that where do you find people with the right credentials and strength of character to stand up to the whinging bumholes team principles can be
BRING BACK MASI (please) I want to hear Tontosser losing the plot when his babykins gets trumped
You cannot be serious! Bring back the fool who gifted the same team and same driver not one but two race victories, in the same year. And most certainly decided the world championship all on his own! You could not find a more prejudicial person to put in charge.
All on his own...yeah right , but carry on, i suppose he also has had a hand in Max winning his 2nd WDC too, gumpy and chocolate spring to mind
Never said anything about this year, but Masi alone decided last years championship by breaking FIA’s own rules. Can’t be argued
Is it just me ?…. or is it time to get rid of Tom Stallard the race engineer for Daniel Riccardo, he’s been an abject failure with all of his high profile drivers over the years. Wake up McLaren !!… it’s obvious !! Look at the record. Time for key people change if McLaren wants to get back to winning.
If the officials can make up the rules as they go along to make things more spactular it is not a sport it is a spectacle. Allowing pit stops under safety car already makes the result a lottery so why pretend this is a sport, it is no more a sport than professional wrestling.
If f1 was a sport there would be no tyre changes under safety car and the clock would stop under safety car, drivers would have to maintain position and racing would restart when the safety car went in.
I'm thinking races that , using your well reasoned argument that races that have 3 or 4 safety cars, the races might last 4 hours all told, if the clocks stopped with cars running out of fuel, just so i understand fully what your proposing .
Well reasoned, LOL.
Bring back refuelling and or bigger tanks, more work for the strategists. Millions of us mere mortals do it every day but not under safety car without a time penalty.
I think a lot of teams factor in SCs as part of their strategy. I agree, no tire changes, stop the clock, then restart the race.
Possibly Masi was inept, but he certainly didn't stick it to Hamilton who stuck it to himself. No one made Hamilton stay out when everyone else pitted. He/She chose that.
Correct, and its a (she) definitely lol
It'll all come out eventually for those who are obviously blind.
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