Suggesting Masi’s removal was unjust, the Dutch champion spoke at the driver’s conference and said:
The Dutchman believes the Australian was pressured into taking a call in Abu Dhabi and judged unfairly as a result of it. The scrutiny over his decisions despite being lobbied and pressured while carrying out his duties made his job difficult, according to the Red Bull champion.
Stating why he felt Masi’s removal was unfair, Max Verstappen said:
Exemplifying that referees in other sports do not have coaches or team managers lobbying them, the Red Bull driver believes the allowance of radio communication between the race directors and the teams itself was incorrect. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who was responsible for most of its usage, also agreed with this view.
Assessing the situation that unfolded when Masi was the race director, Max Verstappen said:
Taking a jibe at those who pressured the Australian’s dismissal, Verstappen termed the move ‘unacceptable’. Further, he suggested that the race director was judged and scrutinized harshly, instead of being provided with a support system to aid his job.
Max Verstappen saddened by Michael Masi’s sacking; contacted race director upon hearing the news
The Dutch world champion revealed he was saddened by the news of Michael Masi’s removal and texted the former race director when he heard about it. The reigning champion believes the Australian was in a difficult spot after he replaced the late Charlie Whiting, who was more experienced.
Empathizing with the former race director, Max Verstappen said:
The 2021 world champion’s opinion is similar to other drivers, such as Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo and Fernando Alonso, who have identified with Masi. With a polarized F1 community on social media, his opinion, however, is likely to get a vitriolic reaction. His boss Christian Horner, who empathized with Masi, was also criticized by his rival Lewis Hamilton’s fans.
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