Michael Masi’s response to accusations that he “ruined Lewis Hamilton’s legacy”
Ex-race director Masi lost his job with the FIA in the wake of the controversy caused by his incorrect interpretation of the Safety Car rule which allowed 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen to overtake Hamilton, 🐽and claim a last-gasp championship.
Masi is back in the paddock at the 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:F1 Australian Grand Prix, in his home country, this weekend for th𒅌e first ti𝔉me since Abu Dhabi.
“I was a little nervous on Wednesday, when I first came in,” he told the . “But you ha꧙ve seen with your own꧙ eyes the kind reception.”
Masi was asked if “he understands the anger of tꦑhose who accuse him ꦕof ruining Hamilton's race” and “possibly his legacy?”
Ma𒊎si replied: “They have their perspective and are entitled to their view.
“I res♔pect any view, and it'🗹s not for me to comment on what they do or don't think.
“And if I am approached to have a discu🔯ssion I am open t✅o it, and always have been.”
Masi signed an NDA when he departed his job with the FIA meaning he ꦿcannot discuss details of that notorious race in Abu Dhabi, where Hamilton lost out on an all-time record eighth title, and Verstappen’s domi♚nance began.
He now describes his time as a race director: “I loved the job but you don't realise the im🐻pact travelling so much has on you. When we last met in 2021, I literally lived on a plane.
“The joys of being able to cook a meal at hoܫme, being able to catch 💖up with relatives are now open to me.
“My only living grandparent, Agusta, is 89 and is 10 minutes down the road. She can't speak a word of English and she loves the fact I go to see her and have a coffee with her. Those little things. You don't reꦗalise what they mean. Weddings, birthdays.
“When I stopped at the FIA, I told my parents, ‘Those days are done for me’.꧑
“I had told them a🌼fter the Abu Dhabi fallout not to bother reading or watching anything. It's not healthy. The place can be a very toxic place.
“Iဣn many ways social media can be a great tool, but not so great in others.
“I have spent time𓂃 looking after myself. It's done me good. It's what I needed. I spent a lot of time getting into 💟physical shape but didn't spend enough on the mental side for a long while.
“There were peop💙le I was speaking to privately, my then partner - she was an amazing support - and friends and family. As for professional help, I got that, but probably later than I should have done - the latter part of last year, but things had largely calmed down by then.”
Hamilton has insisted that he won’t talk t🍎o Masi i🍸f they meet in Melbourne this weekend.
James was a sports journalist a🐼t Sky Sports for a decade covering everything from American sports, to football, t🌄o F1.
