F1 teams' lobbying of Michael Masi "like a pantomime audition" - Brown

Zak Brown

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F1 teams' lobbying of Masi "like a pantomime audition" - Brown

McLaren CEO has delivered a punchy broadside

Ian Parkes

Monday 17 January 2022 14:46 Updated: 15:06

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has accused his F1 rivals of 'auditioning for a pantomime' following their "over-excited" lobbying of FIA race director Michael Masi at times last season.

In a hard-hitting column on McLaren's website, Brown feels F1 only has itself to blame for the mess it currently finds itself in given the ongoing FIA inquiry into the closing events of the 2021 season finale in Abu Dhabi.

To that end, Brown is demanding tougher leadership from the sport's rulers in F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and new FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem as he feels the teams currently wield too much power, and it is time for a change.

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The signs of organisational difficulties could be seen at the 2020 Australian Grand Prix and at last year’s Belgian Grand Prix, both hallmarked by a seeming lack of preparation for the events unfolding and temporary inertia on the solutions.

"The election of Mohammed Ben Sulayem last December as the new president of the FIA provides the opportunity for collective reform of the way Formula 1 operates," said Brown.

"It is obvious to focus on the events of Abu Dhabi at the end of last season, which are the subject of an FIA investigation, but this was a symptom rather than cause in my view.

"There have been systemic issues around alignment and clarity on who makes the rules - the FIA or the teams - that have manifested themselves in the past couple of years, at times in a high-profile way.

"Greater clarity on the roles of the FIA and F1 and the need for increased leadership of the sport will undoubtedly be on the agenda for Mohammed Ben Sulayem and Stefano Domenicali and their respective teams.

"Previous administrations pursued a mainly autocratic style of governance, so to point the sport in the right direction it was necessary to take a more consultative approach with teams and stakeholders.

"But now the sport has been successfully reset, moving forward there is a need to shift back to stronger, more directive leadership and governance at the top of the sport.

"It is clear that some of the rules and their governance are not acceptable as things stand.

"No one is happy with the inconsistency in the policing of the regulations, but which has been habitually exploited by teams for competitive advantage.

"I have said before that the teams have too much power and it needs to be reduced.

"We have a significant role in the drafting of the regulations and governance of Formula 1 and that influence is not always driven by what is best overall for the sport.

"Yes, teams should be consulted, and their informed perspectives considered, particularly on long-term strategic issues. But at times it has seemed the sport is governed by certain teams."

Brown highlighted the influence that has been brought to bear and a few of the rules that have come into force.

Brown, in particular, made reference to the events of last season as team-to-FIA radio was aired for the first time throughout the campaign, with Masi often badgered by the various voices from the pit wall.

Notably, Brown also made clear the role the teams played in the ending to the race in Abu Dhabi that led to the bitter end for Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton especially.

"Let us not forget that we, the teams, have contributed to the inconsistencies in the policing of the regulations as much as anyone," added Brown.

"It is the teams who applied the pressure to avoid finishing races under a safety car at all costs. It is the teams who voted for many of the regulations they have complained about.

"It is the teams who have been using the broadcasting of radio messages to the race director to try to influence penalties and race outcomes, to the point where an over-excited team principal plays to the gallery and pressurises race officials.

"This has not been edifying for F1. At times it’s felt like a pantomime audition rather than the pinnacle of a global sport."

Expressing hope for a brighter future, Brown said: "I am confident that we will see increased leadership from the FIA and F1, and that collectively as custodians of the sport we will focus on evolving the sport and not shirk responsibility when it comes to tough decision-making."