Motorsport\u2019s sister YouTube channel Formel1.de<\/a>. \u201cThe regulations didn\u2019t strictly define everything. What he did was within his authority. He had a certain level of discretion in how to deploy the safety car.<\/p>\n“He essentially did what everyone had agreed upon: create one final racing lap”<\/p>\n
Niels Wittich<\/p>\n
\u201cOne key factor was that teams, FIA, and Formula 1 had all agreed \u2013 over many meetings \u2013 that races should, if possible, finish under green flag conditions. Nobody wanted a race ending behind the safety car.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn Abu Dhabi, the situation was such that any intervention would have disadvantaged someone. You could have red-flagged the race \u2013 but that requires specific conditions like danger to personnel or a blocked track. That wasn\u2019t the case. So red flag wasn\u2019t really an option.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen came the lapped cars question. Initially, he said they wouldn\u2019t unlap themselves, then he allowed it \u2013 but modified the usual procedure by not waiting an extra lap. That was within his authority under the regulations at the time.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe essentially did what everyone had agreed upon: create one final racing lap. It produced a spectacular finish, an overtake, a winner and a runner-up. It could have gone the other way just as easily. That\u2019s sport.<\/p>\n
![\"Niels](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/niels-wittich-race-director-fi-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Niels Wittich, Race Director, FIA<\/p>\n
Photo by: Mark Sutton \/ Motorsport Images<\/p>\n
\u201cA late safety car is always controversial. Fans don\u2019t like it if it decides the race \u2013 but that applies everywhere. Whether it\u2019s lap one or the final laps, someone gains, someone loses. That\u2019s part of the sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Abu Dhabi race itself had been quite uneventful until Latifi\u2019s crash. Without that, it would have been a straightforward, perhaps even dull finale. But because of the incident and the intervention, it suddenly became decisive \u2013 and that upset one group of fans or the other.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople later said, \u2018You could have red-flagged it, you could have done this or that.\u2019 Yes, you could \u2013 but those would have been inconsistent decisions compared to earlier races. And consistency is key.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn meetings with the teams in early 2022, I asked them directly: \u2018Do you want us to red-flag every minor incident?\u2019 They said no. \u2018Do you want different rules for the final race?\u2019 Again, no.<\/p>\n
\u201cA championship isn\u2019t decided in one race alone. Points lost earlier in the season matter just as much. Both Hamilton and Verstappen had chances to secure the title earlier.\u201d<\/p>\n
The FIA attributed the incident to a \u201chuman error\u201d and removed Masi from the race director position as the Australian suffered a wave of abuse, including death threats, before he eventually left the federation altogether.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter the investigation following Abu Dhabi, the conclusion seemed to be that Michael had to go \u2013 essentially finding a scapegoat,\u201d Wittich added.<\/p>\n
![\"Michael](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/michael-masi-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Michael Masi<\/p>\n
Photo by: Simon Galloway \/ Motorsport Images<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat was really disappointing \u2013 for me and many colleagues \u2013 was the lack of support from the FIA for Michael. That\u2019s something that needs to be clearly criticised. Everyone knew that in extreme situations, you\u2019d be left on your own.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the past, under Charlie Whiting, there was always backing from FIA leadership \u2013 Max Mosley stood firmly behind him. That support wasn\u2019t there anymore. It still isn\u2019t. That\u2019s one of the reasons I\u2019m no longer a race director in Formula 1.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhatever happened, there was no proper discussion, no backing for employees. And that\u2019s the worst takeaway from that whole situation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Masi is currently on the board of directors of Karting Australia and has been the event director for the\u00a0Repco NextGen NZ Championship, which includes the Formula Regional Oceania Trophy.<\/p>\n
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![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/the-fia-safety-car-leads-lewis.jpg\")
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