Sebastian Vettel wants new FIA race directors to be 'as committed as Masi'

Sebastian Vettel

Vettel wants new FIA race directors to be 'as committed as Masi'

Masi was replaced by Wittich and Freitas as the FIA sought change

Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale

Tuesday 1 March 2022 13:00

Sebastian Vettel has revealed his hope new FIA race directors for F1 Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas will be "as committed" as Michael Masi when they take up the post.

Australian Masi was removed from the role for his part in the controversial season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last season, with the governing body implementing a first wave of amendments to its structure last month.

Grand Prix Drivers' Association director Vettel was outspoken against Masi's dismissal, urging the FIA to take a broader picture of his time in the role and asked to further review the change.

The Aston Martin driver said: "Michael was working really hard and always had an open ear to us.

"Obviously, a decision was taken that he was not going to be in that role anymore.

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"We will see going forwards but I hope whoever is coming will be working as hard and committed as Michael was."

Leclerc confident F1 has found "best solution"

The general feeling from the drivers at the first pre-season test in Barcelona last week was one of sorrow that Masi had lost his job.

Adding his opinion into the fray, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc said: "I have a lot of respect for Michael and for what he has done.

"I am sure he has tried his best to take the best decision in his opinion all the time. It is always tricky.

"As we saw in the last race, it is not easy. You need to take the decision quickly.

"But having said that, he will still be there in a different position and I wish him the best.

"For the future, I am pretty sure the FIA has more information than we do on all of this and they took, in their opinion, the best solution for Formula 1, which I hope will be the case."