Just when it got to the fun part of canceling and castigating former race director Michael Masi for social media trolls, the FIA have parted company with the Australian. Now who will take the role of punching bag in the paddock?
Regardless of what many think, I tend to believe that we are all capable of making the right calls and sometimes the wrong calls and like any decision, its efficacy, wrongness or rightness is also subject to the lens of those who view it.
I may be old fashioned but I think, like the margins between good and bad calls, there is room for understanding, compassion, forgiveness and reconciliation. There is little doubt the emotional and capital cost to Mercedes was real and finding a shred of understanding may seem impossible. Perhaps I am the only one who has realized this from my youth but the finger of blame eventually turns upon itself. I do hope those eviscerating Mr. Masi never have to face the white-hot ire of the world like he has.
FIA Statement:
The FIA confirms that Michael Masi has decided to leave the FIA and relocate to Australia to be closer to his family and take on new challenges. He oversaw a three-year period as FIA Formula 1 Race Director and Safety Delegate following the sudden passing of Charlie Whiting in 2019, carrying out the numerous functions he was tasked with in a professional and dedicated manner. The FIA thanks him for his commitment and wishes him the best for the future.
“Now who will take the role of punching bag in the paddock?”
My exact thought when I read the headline. The witch hunters got their witch. A man’s career has been destroyed. A family thrown into chaos. And now all can rest safe that no questionable decision will ever be made in sports again. How naive. ~X8
The problem with Masi is he refused to apologize for being a total failure. Let’s not kid ourselves, he ruined a championship. Even Horner now admits that Max’s win was illegitimate. He should at least publicly apologize to the drivers. If he had simply come out and admitted how awfully he failed, I would think he should be forgiven and allowed to remain…but he didn’t. Hopefully we never have to see him again.
I understand your point, Nigel. I know he did make a statement but let’s be honest, any statement he would make was never going to be received very well and the blow back, death threats and mobocracy he was facing was overwhelming. If I was him, I’d have little interest in saying things that would only equate to pouring fuel on an already raging fire. When you have the head of Merc offering nothing but derision and calling for your head and Team LH spun up into a torch and pitchfork mentality storming the keep, I think he chose to… Read more »
He got a big call wrong, unfortunately it was in front of the world. Doesn’t deserve to be thrown to the wolves like FIA have done to him. In the heat of the moment he picked the wrong option, he was in a difficult position without much support. The FIA should have taken some additional precautions prior to that race but seemed to be wrapped up in the glitz of it all – did they ever publish that report?