Michael Masi has been formally removed from his position as Formula One race director. FIA president Mohammed ben Sulayem made the announcement today.

The FIA president also announced changes to the way refereeing in the sport is conducted, including the banning of direct communication broadcasts between F1 teams and the race director, as well remote assistance from an off-site FIA facility.

Abu Dhabi Fall Out 

Masi’s removal is direct fallout from the controversy that surrounded the closing laps of 2021’s title-deciding race in Abu Dhabi. Masi’s actions prompted an FIA inquiry into the events surrounding it.

The decision not to let all lapped cars rejoin the back of the field enabled the race to get going under green flag conditions for one last lap of racing. However, the incorrect application of the safety car regulations played into the hands of Red Bull and Max Verstappen.

With the field bunched up and free to go racing, Verstappen, who was on fresher tires, was able to overtake race leader, Hamilton who up until that point had dominated the race and was close to a record-breaking eighth world championship. Masi’s decision to slightly bend the rules however left Hamilton defenseless against Verstappen, as the Mercedes driver opted to not change his tires, given the very few laps remaining until the chequered flag and what the rules dictated about late safety car periods.

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Sulayem stated that Masi had been offered another role within the FIA, but did not specify what it was, or indeed if Masi had taken up the offer. Meanwhile, Sulayem announced that unlapping procedures behind the safety car will be reassigned by the Sporting Advisory Committee, and presented to the F1 Commission before the season starts in March.

A New Structure From The FIA

The role of the F1 Race Director will now be shared by WEC race director Eduardo Freitas and former DTM and Formula E director Niels Wittich. Freitas and Wittich will alternately act as race directors over the season. They will be supported by Herbie Blash, a former team manager who returns to the role of permanent senior advisor. Blash left Formula One at the end of 2016, previously assisting Charlie Whiting, who served as Race Director from 1997 until his passing in 2019.

Sulayem likened the new “Virtual Race Control Room” to the Video Assistance Referee, VAR, in football. It will be stationed off-site, at an FIA facility, with real-time communication with the race director. The new facility will assist the race director in applying the sporting regulations fairly.

Furthermore, team broadcasts will no longer be played to the public. The element was new for 2021 and was praised for adding to the depth of televised broadcasts. However, the radio messages that were played out on live TV of teams apparently “lobbying” the race director led to increased scrutiny of the sport. And, although direct radio communications will be banned, “it will still be possible to ask questions to the race director, according to a well-defined and non-intrusive process.” said Sulayem.

The new system and race management team will be in place for the first test session in Barcelona, next week.