Wolff accuses ‘liability’ Masi of disrespecting F1 drivers
Masi was removed as F1’s race director as part of a major restructure at the governing body the FIA ahead of the 2022 season following an inquiry into last year’s controversial title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The Australian’s failure to correctly apply the rules during a late Safety Car forced a restart that altered the outcome of the world championship, enabling Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to beat Lewis Hamilton to the crown in a last-lap shootout.
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Masi has been replaced by two new race directors for 2022, with Eduardo Freitas and Niels Wittich alternating the role, while a new Remote Operations Centre - which has been likened to football’s VAR system - has been created to assist with decision-making.
Four months have passed since the controversial Abu Dhabi finale but it is clear the subject still angers Wolff, who criticised Masi in an interview with the PA news agency.
"It is quite interesting because I had lunch with him [Masi] on the Wednesday before the race, and I said to him that 'I really want to tell you, without patronising you, that you need to take criticism on board and develop from there. Lewis does it every day, but you are a guy who always seems to know better'," Wolff said.
"It wasn't about influencing him but really giving my honest feedback that he shouldn't block outside opinion as simply being wrong.
"You hear from the drivers and how the drivers' briefings were conducted [by Masi] and some of the guys said it was almost disrespectful how he treated some of them.
"He was just immune to any feedback and even today he has not properly reflected that he did something wrong.
"He was a liability for the sport because everybody kept talking about Abu Dhabi and the race director, and the race director should not be somebody that people talk about, but someone who does the job and makes sure the race is run according to the regulations.”
Wolff questions jewellery ban
Wolff also questioned new race director Wittich's reminder about a ban on drivers wearing jewellery while driving their cars during on-track sessions.
“How he has run the first few races has been respectful, solid and he hasn’t put a single foot wrong,” Wolff said.
“But is that [jewellery ban] a battle he needs to have at this stage?
“However, if it turns out to be the biggest unfortunate misstep of a race director, I would take it a thousand times over.”
Seven-time world champion Hamilton has already made it clear he will defy the ban and continue to wear jewellery.
"I don't have any plans on removing them," Hamilton said after Sunday's Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
"They are personal things. You should be able to be who you are. There is stuff that I cannot move.
"I literally cannot even take these out. These ones on my right ear are welded in so I would have to get it chopped off. They will be staying."
