Red Bull expect FIA to provide "support" to F1 race director Masi

Red Bull sporting director Jonathan Wheatley expects the FIA to provide "support" to race director Michael Masi ahead of the new F1 season.

Masi and the grand prix stewards were criticised last season for their inconsistent decisions, with the Australian often stating after races that 'each incident must be viewed on its own merits'.

The FIA is currently embroiled in an inquiry looking into the events of the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with Masi's position unclear just six weeks before the opening race of the new campaign in Bahrain.

With Masi holding other roles alongside that of race director, Wheatley fully expects the FIA to ease the pressure on him over a weekend, possibly employing a deputy.

"It looks like the new president is taking this very, very seriously and is looking to put support in where it is needed," said Wheatley.

Reflecting on the problems created by the 'let them race' ideology, Wheatley added: “Of course, we would all love it to be very clear.

"We’ve had this great overarching philosophy of ‘let them race’ but ‘let them race’ is a philosophy.

"You’ve then got the black and white of the regulations which are often very prescribed in terms of what penalty [can be applied] or there is no wriggle room in it at all.

“These are the areas of the sport that needs to come from the very top. The World Motor Sport Council need to say 'Here are the principles which we are going racing'.

"Then it is up to the FIA and the teams to work together to ensure a consistent set of sporting regulations.”

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