Michael Masi had "the most difficult job on the planet" in Abu Dhabi - Ferrari

Ferrari - FIA

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Masi had "the most difficult job on the planet" in Abu Dhabi - Ferrari

FIA race director came under fire for his handling of events

Ian Parkes

Wednesday 29 December 2021 16:00

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto believes Michael Masi endured "the most difficult job on the planet" with his handling of F1's season finale in Abu Dhabi.

Masi came under fire for the decisions he made over the closing stages of the race at the Yas Marina Circuit following Nicholas Latifi's crash in his Williams.

They proved crucial in helping to determine the destiny of the title, with Red Bull's Max Verstappen passing Lewis Hamilton in his Mercedes on the final lap to claim his maiden championship.

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Binotto, though, feels that no matter what call Masi had made, he was effectively damned either way.

"On what happened in Abu Dhabi, I think whatever decision he would have taken, I see someone who will be happy, someone will be unhappy," assessed Binotto, when asked about the event at a pre-Christmas media briefing that included GPFans.

"I think his job was the most difficult job on the planet at that time."

Confirming the matter was discussed at a World Council meeting before Christmas, Binotto added: "For all, it's important lessons are learned if any.

"I see what could be important within the F1 Commission. We discussed all the events and the situations and identified if there is any improvement we could make for the future.

"That's the mandate from the World Council, which is the most important one."

Binotto has suggested future talks may also be in the pipeline going into next season.

"As Ferrari, again, very happy to sit down with all the other team principles, the FIA, F1, to discuss if something could have been done in a different way," said Binotto.

"Judging the decisions would be wrong from my side because I believe, again, it was a very difficult call.

"It seems there are proper reasons why they [the FIA] managed it that way, maybe something different could have been done. Again, difficult to judge.

"As I said, someone would be happy and another one not. That's no doubt."