Motorsport Week
  • Formula 1
    • 2023 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2023 Formula 1 Standings
    • 2023 Formula 1 Driver Line-Up
    • 2023 Formula 1 Driver Penalty Points
    • 2024 Formula 1 Driver Line-Up
  • Formula E
    • 2022/23 Formula E Standings
    • 2022/23 Formula E Calendar
    • 2022/23 Formula E Team/Driver Line-up
  • IndyCar
    • 2023 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2023 IndyCar Driver Line-Up
    • 2023 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2023 WRC Calendar
    • 2023 WRC Standings
    • 2023 WRC Driver Line-up
  • MotoGP
    • 2023 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2023 MotoGP Team/Rider Line-Up
    • 2023 MotoGP Standings
  • WEC
    • 2023 WEC Calendar
    • 2023 WEC Hypercar Team/Driver Line-up
  • More
    • IMSA
      • 2023 IMSA GTP Team/Driver Line-up
      • 2023 IMSA Calendar
    • Formula 2
      • 2023 Formula 2 Race Calendar
      • 2023 Formula 2 Driver Line-up
    • Formula 3
      • 2023 Formula 3 Race Calendar
      • 2023 Formula 3 Driver Line-up
    • DTM
    • WSeries
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
LIVE
No Result
View All Result
  • Formula 1
    • 2023 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2023 Formula 1 Standings
    • 2023 Formula 1 Driver Line-Up
    • 2023 Formula 1 Driver Penalty Points
    • 2024 Formula 1 Driver Line-Up
  • Formula E
    • 2022/23 Formula E Standings
    • 2022/23 Formula E Calendar
    • 2022/23 Formula E Team/Driver Line-up
  • IndyCar
    • 2023 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2023 IndyCar Driver Line-Up
    • 2023 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2023 WRC Calendar
    • 2023 WRC Standings
    • 2023 WRC Driver Line-up
  • MotoGP
    • 2023 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2023 MotoGP Team/Rider Line-Up
    • 2023 MotoGP Standings
  • WEC
    • 2023 WEC Calendar
    • 2023 WEC Hypercar Team/Driver Line-up
  • More
    • IMSA
      • 2023 IMSA GTP Team/Driver Line-up
      • 2023 IMSA Calendar
    • Formula 2
      • 2023 Formula 2 Race Calendar
      • 2023 Formula 2 Driver Line-up
    • Formula 3
      • 2023 Formula 3 Race Calendar
      • 2023 Formula 3 Driver Line-up
    • DTM
    • WSeries
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
Motorsport Week
Home Single Seater Formula 1

Masi opens up on ‘dark days’ following Abu Dhabi GP

by Fergal Walsh
10 months ago
A A
0
Masi opens up on ‘dark days’ following Abu Dhabi GP
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Ex-Formula 1 Race Director Michael Masi says that he endured “dark days” following last year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, stating he received death threats after the race.

Masi came under scrutiny for his decision-making toward the end of the grand prix, allowing only the cars in between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen to unlap themselves under a Safety Car before restarting the race.

Verstappen went on to overtake Hamilton and claim his maiden F1 title, with Hamilton missing out on a record-breaking eighth.

Masi has since departed the FIA, with the role of Race Director now split between Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas.

RelatedPosts

Gasly to drop six places after separate impeding penalties

Gasly to drop six places after separate impeding penalties

6 mins ago
Perez targets Spanish GP podium after Q2 exit

Perez targets Spanish GP podium after Q2 exit

7 mins ago

Speaking to News Corp, the Australian reflected on the situation and revealed that he received widespread abuse following the race.

“There were some dark days,” Masi said. “And absolutely, I felt like I was the most hated man in the world. 

“I got death threats. People saying they were going to come after me and my family. They were shocking. Racist, abusive, vile, they called me every name under the sun.

“And they kept on coming. Not just on my Facebook but also on my LinkedIn, which is supposed to be a professional platform for business. It was the same type of abuse.”

Williams’ Nicholas Latifi also received death threats after the race, after his crash resulted in the Safety Car intervention at the end of the grand prix.

An investigation was undertaken by the FIA following the event, which concluded that “human error” was behind the events that unfolded.

“I didn’t want to talk to anyone,” Masi added. “Not even family and friends. I only talked to my close family – but very briefly.

“It did have a physical impact, but it was more mental. I just wanted to be in a bubble. I had no desire to talk to them. I just wanted to be alone, which was very challenging.

“The whole experience has made me a much stronger person.”

Tags: F1Masi
Share328Tweet205

Related Posts

Gasly to drop six places after separate impeding penalties
Formula 1

Gasly to drop six places after separate impeding penalties

6 mins ago
Perez targets Spanish GP podium after Q2 exit
Formula 1

Perez targets Spanish GP podium after Q2 exit

7 mins ago
Magnussen ‘pretty gutted’ with Q1 exit in Spain
Formula 1

Magnussen ‘pretty gutted’ with Q1 exit in Spain

59 mins ago
Load More

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

Popular Articles

Leclerc: Every driver would like Hamilton as F1 team-mate
Formula 1

Leclerc: Every driver would like Hamilton as F1 team-mate

June 1, 2023
Magnussen: Perez chicane clash caused by anti-stall
Formula 1

Magnussen: Perez chicane clash caused by anti-stall

May 28, 2023

Upcoming Races

#EventLocationDate
8Spanish GPBarcelona04 June
9Canadian GPMontreal18 June
10Austrian GPSpielberg02 July
11British GPSilverstone09 July
12Hungarian GPBudapest23 July

Click here for the full 2023 F1 calendar

Drivers’  Standings

#DriverPts
Max Verstappen144
Sergio Perez105
Fernando Alonso93
Lewis Hamilton69
George Russell50
Carlos Sainz48
Charles Leclerc42
Lance Stroll27
Esteban Ocon22
Pierre Gasly14

Click here for full Drivers’ Standings

Follow Motorsport Week

Motorsport Week

© 2023 Motorsport Media Services Ltd

Other Links

  • About & Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Motorsport Monday

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Formula 1
    • Latest News
    • Championship Standings
    • 2023 F1 Calendar
    • Team/Driver Line-Up
    • Session Results
    • Driver Penalty Points
  • Formula E
    • Latest News
    • 2022/23 Formula E Standings
    • 2022/23 Formula E Calendar
    • Session Results
  • MotoGP
    • Latest News
    • Standings
    • Calendar
  • WRC
    • Latest News
    • Standings
    • Calendar
  • IndyCar
    • Latest News
    • Calendar
    • Standings
  • WEC
    • Latest News
    • Calendar
  • Live Updates
  • Other
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • WSeries
    • DTM
    • IMSA
  • Galleries
  • About/Contact
  • Privacy Policy

© 2023 Motorsport Media Services Ltd

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
X