Wolff's collar explodes: This is how Masi slipped away from Formula 1 control!

Wolff's collar explodes: This is how Masi slipped away from Formula 1 control!

The dispute over the dramatic 2021 Formula 1 season finale in Abu Dhabi continues to be a hotly debated topic. The then FIA racing director Michael Masi is at the center of the controversy surrounding his controversial decisions. Toto Wolff, Mercedes team boss, once again criticized Masi harshly in a recent interview. He described the events in Abu Dhabi as a situation in which he “lost control of a situation”. The final race shocked Mercedes officials and fans after Max Verstappen won his first world championship title with a questionable overtaking maneuver against Lewis Hamilton.

Wolff not only criticized Masi for his decision, but also described the then race director as “lunatic”. During a book presentation in which his wife Susie Wolff was also present, he explained what happened during the race. Masi had decided to take back only some of the lapped vehicles, which changed the starting position for Verstappen. The decision came after Nicholas Latifi's accident, which resulted in the deployment of the safety car and dramatically changed the final laps of the race. Hamilton was leading the race, but there was still a row of lapped vehicles between him and Verstappen that Masi did not allow to lap back as usual.

Criticism of decision making

The reactions to Masi's decision were not lacking. Mercedes and Hamilton felt betrayed and expressed strong accusations that even included accusations of “manipulation”. Wolff emphasized that it was not just about the lost title, but also about preserving the credibility and sporting reputation of Formula 1. The FIA ​​admitted that there had been a “human error”, but noted that Masi acted “in good faith”. These circumstances ultimately led to Masi's removal from his position the following year.

Despite Masi's recall, the debate about his decisions and the fairness of the race remains present. Wolff has repeatedly said that what happened in Abu Dhabi still concerns him emotionally today and that the controversies have influenced his perception of Formula 1. He points out the threat to sporting reputation that is undermined by such decisions. The discussions about the 2021 season finale and the associated implications for the Formula 1 world as well as the impact on the drivers and teams continue to be a controversial topic.

The issue is now being considered intensively by fans and experts alike, and it remains to be seen what long-term consequences these events will have on the integrity of racing. The excitement surrounding Masi's decisions shows how fragile credibility is in such highly dramatic sporting moments. Formula 1 remains dominated by the controversy surrounding the 2021 season finale, and the discussions about the arbitration awards and their effects are likely to continue for a long time.