Michael Masi: Former F1 race director reveals death threats after Max Verstappen claims Formula One title

“Racist, abusive, vile, they call me anyway under the sun,” threatened former race director Michael Masi after he changed the safety-car restart process, refusing Lewis Hamilton’s eighth record F1 title at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Michael Masi says he was subjected to ‘shocking’ abuse

Former race director Michael Masi has received death threats after his controversial decision to allow Max Verstappen to win the Formula One title.

The Australian driver changed the safety car restart procedure at the end of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December, a move that handed the crown back to Red Bull’s Verstappen, denying Mercedes Lewis a record eighth title Hamilton in the process.

“There are some dark days,” said Masi News Corp on Sunday. “And of course, I feel like the most hated man in the world. I’ve been threatened with death. People say they’re going to kill me and my family.”

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Formula 1 expert Karun Chandhok analyzes Michael Masi’s decision to change the safe car restart procedure

Masi’s decision to allow the cars that flipped between leader Hamilton and Verstappen to move around the Mercedes driver and the safety car helped the Dutchman overtake the defending champion on the final lap and win the race. get the title.

A later report on the race in Abu Dhabi in March found Masi committed a “human error” but acted “in good faith”.

Masi, who left the FIA ​​regulator in March, has been the subject of a series of abuses on social media.

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FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem announces Masi has been removed from the position of F1 racing director

“They were shocked,” Masi said of the messages he received on Facebook. “Racist, abusive, vile, they call me anyway under the sun.

“And they keep coming. Not only on my Facebook but also on my LinkedIn, which is supposed to be a professional platform for business. It’s also a type of abuse.”

The 44-year-old man later returned to Australia and did not seek professional help to overcome the consequences of the incident.

“I don’t want to talk to anyone,” he said.

“Not even my family, my friends. I only talked to my close family but very briefly.

“It has a physical impact, but more of an emotional impact. I just want to be in the bubble. I don’t want to talk to them. I just want to be alone, it’s very difficult.

“The whole experience has made me a much stronger person.”