The FIA, F1’s governing body, had both Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas divide the race director duties between them in 2022. However, when Pierre Gasly drove past a truck that shouldn’t have been on track in Japan, the former took charge till the end of the campaign.
Despite ending the season with only one race director (Niels Wittich), FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has said that F1 will go back to the ‘multiple-director’ system from 2023.
In a media briefing at the Dakar Rally, he said:
He added:
The 61-year-old also stated that many talented officials were operating at the grassroots level who, with the right training, could go on to help manage F1 races. He stated:
“It was also his choice” - Mohammed Ben Sulayem on FIA parting ways with former F1 race director Michael Masi
Mohammed Ben Sulayem took charge as the FIA president not long after the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Criticism of race director Michael Masi’s handling of the race led to an internal review and investigation, which ended with the FIA parting ways with Masi, among other things.
When asked why the FIA let Masi go, Ben Sulayem said that it was not just the governing body’s decision. He said:
He added:
He continued:
Michael Masi currently works as a member of the Board of Directors at Karting Australia in Australia.
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