Gary Lineker issues one-word verdict on Michael Masi saga as damning video emerges
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Gary Lineker has underlined his disapproval of the way Michael Masi handled the closing stages of last year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after a new video of the controversial incident emerged on social media. Masi, who has served as Formula One’s race director since 2019, currently finds himself at the centre of a storm after bizarrely allowing Max Verstappen to close up to Lewis Hamilton under the safety car during the final few laps at the Yas Marina Circuit.
Hamilton led comfortably for the vast majority of the contest and looked set to win a record-breaking eighth Drivers’ Championship title until he was cruelly denied by Verstappen on the very last lap.
The Dutchman reaped the rewards of Masi’s decision to ask only the five lapped cars between himself and Hamilton to un-lap themselves under the safety car ahead of the one-lap shootout that followed.
This gave Verstappen a clear run at his Mercedes rival and the 24-year-old went on to nip ahead of the Brit to claim the end-of-season honours under extraordinary circumstances.
Masi’s role in shaping the result caused plenty of controversy due to the widely-held belief that all lapped cars should have been required to un-lap themselves in such a scenario.
A video clip of Masi’s mid-race chat with Red Bull sporting director Jonathan Wheatley has since added fuel to the fire after it was unearthed on social media on Wednesday.
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Wheatley is heard telling the race director: “Those lapped cars; you don’t need to let them go right the way around and catch up with the back of the pack. You only need to let them go, and then we’ve got a motor race on our hands.”
Masi then replies: “Understood.”
The clip has attracted no shortage of additional criticism, with many onlookers suggesting that Masi should not have allowed the Red Bull pit wall to dictate proceedings in this way.
Lineker quickly took to Twitter to offer his thoughts on the video, simply weighing in with: “Smelly.”
The former England striker and Match of the Day host previously expressed his contempt for the incident in the immediate aftermath of the race, tweeting: “What a joke. That stinks.”
Meanwhile, it remains to be seen whether Masi will face any sanctions from the FIA when the results of their internal investigation are unveiled before the start of the new season.
The findings are set to be presented at the F1 Commission meeting in London on February 14 before they are signed off in Bahrain in March.
One-time world champion Damon Hill recently declared that Masi should not be relieved of his duties by arguing that he is fully aware of the severity of his actions and will not be looking for a repeat in future.
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“I think he’s learned his lesson, I think we need someone who has some experience,” Hill told Sky Sports F1 last month.
“These people know what they are dealing with. He just needs back-up and needs to be given the confidence that he can lay down the law according to what he wants to see done.
“Assuming, of course, he wants it to be run to the regulations.”
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