Michael Masi should be replaced
Discussion
Michael Masi is not up to the job of running a F1 Grand Prix. He had a hard act to follow as Charlie Whiting did a brilliant job but Masi is clearly one of those guys who wants to be the show rather than being in the shadows enabling others to shine
We have seen far too many red flags this season, far too many petty penalties and to top it all the Spa Grand Prix has to be the worst ‘race’ in living memory. We saw evidence of confusion, poor decision making and a two lap ‘race’ just so that F1 didn’t have to refund fans etc.
2022 might see better cars that enable racing but with Masi in charge we will continue to see numerous red flags and penalties for all sorts of so called minor infringements. Watching LeMans and the Touring Cars yesterday reminded me Racing doesn’t have to be the sterile by the rule book Masi type of show.
The guy reminds me of a parking warden.
Just looked at his cv no experience in racing seems to come from a marketing background.
We have seen far too many red flags this season, far too many petty penalties and to top it all the Spa Grand Prix has to be the worst ‘race’ in living memory. We saw evidence of confusion, poor decision making and a two lap ‘race’ just so that F1 didn’t have to refund fans etc.
2022 might see better cars that enable racing but with Masi in charge we will continue to see numerous red flags and penalties for all sorts of so called minor infringements. Watching LeMans and the Touring Cars yesterday reminded me Racing doesn’t have to be the sterile by the rule book Masi type of show.
The guy reminds me of a parking warden.
Just looked at his cv no experience in racing seems to come from a marketing background.
ApexCult said:
Le Mans and Touring Cars are incomparable with F1. The rule book is clear and mostly written well before Masi rocked up.
Although I agree race day ticket holders should get some sort of refund or discount for next year.
Went to my first GP in 1968 and 2005 US GP, Michelin provided a refund to fans. When you say rule book is clear ! It is so clear no team or TV commentator had a clue what the rules were yesterday !! so pull the other one. F1 is dull these days and will only get worse with Masi in charge. Endless red flags and pointless penalties. Although I agree race day ticket holders should get some sort of refund or discount for next year.
So at start of August Masi says Spa is safe. But clearly if it rains he doesn’t feel it is safe
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.motorlat.com/no...
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.motorlat.com/no...
This article gives some more background on the Spa circuit which was probably weighing on his mind in deciding not to race. Guess he didn’t want to be proved wrong in saying Spa was safe a couple of weeks earlier then having a big crash.
Maybe the F1 safety committee of which he is a member should have implemented more safety measures at the track
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/jalopnik.com/no-tra...
Maybe the F1 safety committee of which he is a member should have implemented more safety measures at the track
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/jalopnik.com/no-tra...
StevieBee said:
If that were true, they'd have run the full race regardless - as they did in Fiji in '76, a decision that was certainly about the money.
Refunds to spectators are the responsibility of the promotor, not F1 or the FIA. The promotor may seek compensation from either of these though I would imagine there's clauses that exclude natural events for the grounds of rebate against which insurance would kick in.
Yesterday was about keeping everyone safe.
As to the call for Masi to go, I would say that F1 is currently being governed and run with levels of efficiency, transparency and quality never seen before. I'm sure that if they could go back, a few things would have been done differently but I cannot recall a race in F1's history that has been affected so badly by the weather.
So precedent now set if it rains for the afternoon they dont race? Just the two laps behind safety car and half points. As Brundle says racing is dangerous and they can move the loud peddle up as well as down. Are we in an era now where little overtaking in the dry as they can’t follow too close and can’t race in the rain because of the spray. Think Brundle also made a good point when he said he comes from an era of racing where his opinion doesn’t really count. Because they raced in far more dangerous machinery on less safe circuits in all weather. Doesn’t make it right but racing can never be totally safe. Refunds to spectators are the responsibility of the promotor, not F1 or the FIA. The promotor may seek compensation from either of these though I would imagine there's clauses that exclude natural events for the grounds of rebate against which insurance would kick in.
Yesterday was about keeping everyone safe.
As to the call for Masi to go, I would say that F1 is currently being governed and run with levels of efficiency, transparency and quality never seen before. I'm sure that if they could go back, a few things would have been done differently but I cannot recall a race in F1's history that has been affected so badly by the weather.
The simple fact is they should have raced at 2 pm.
Bernie would have held the race. Interesting comments from John Watson too
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.gpblog.com/en/a...
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk...
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.gpblog.com/en/a...
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk...
Edited by cc3 on Tuesday 31st August 07:42
Saw again in Brazil this guy is not up to the job. Not getting the stewards to at least investigate the incident is one big failure but then to compound it by not having the on board feed to hand. He will have to eat humble pie and back track this week otherwise he’s lost any credibility with most of the teams. Mercedes’ should sue
rdjohn said:
blackmme said:
I guess the key consideration for me (and apologies if this has been done to death and I'm just late to it) is that Masi would have been absolutely and completely aware of the likely outcome of his compounded decisions.
The most likely outcome would of course be Max blitzing past Lewis and the next most likely the fairly high probability of contact.
So for me he knowingly took a decision that he knew would absolutely favour one competitor over another despite neither having caused or been involved in the incident, in which case I think he should be sacked.
Or
He didn't realise what the potential outcome might be, in which case he is incompetent and should be sacked.
I think the cost of Mercedes not going to appeal should be the resignation of Masi. If he stays, then give him sole responsibility for track safety and have a Sporting Director doing the horse-trading. Someone wise like Ross Brawn, or even yesterday Derek Warwick, someone who could immediately see how things would unravel as soon as the guy in 2nd position did the opposite of what the leader did.The most likely outcome would of course be Max blitzing past Lewis and the next most likely the fairly high probability of contact.
So for me he knowingly took a decision that he knew would absolutely favour one competitor over another despite neither having caused or been involved in the incident, in which case I think he should be sacked.
Or
He didn't realise what the potential outcome might be, in which case he is incompetent and should be sacked.
The only reasonable question that Masi should have asked yesterday was “Christian, are you happy to finish the race behind the safety car, or do you want a green with every lapped cars remaining in position?” I think Toto would have accepted the latter.
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