Michael Masi’s response to accusations that he “ruined Lewis Hamilton’s legacy”
Ex-race director Masi lost his job with the FIA in the wake of the controversy caused by his incorrect interpretation of the Safety Car rule which allowed 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Max Verstappen to overtake Hamilton, and ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚc꧅laim a last-gasp championship.
Masi is back in the paddock at the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:F1 Australian Grand Prix, in his home country, this weeken﷽d f♛or the first time since Abu Dhabi.
“I was a little n🗹ervous on Wednesday, when I first came in,” he told the . “But you have seen with your own eyes the kind recep🍸tion.”
Masi was asked if “he understands the anger of those who accuse him of ruining Hamilton's race” and “possi🅺bly his legacy?”
Masi replied: “They have their per♓spective and are entitled to their view.
“I respect any view, and it's not for me to co♔mme🍎nt on what they do or don't think.
“And if I am approached to ha🏅ve a discussion I am open to it, and always have been.”
Masi signed an𝓀 NDA when he departed hi𝄹s job with the FIA meaning he cannot discuss details of that notorious race in Abu Dhabi, where Hamilton lost out on an all-time record eighth title, and Verstappen’s dominance began.
He now describes his time as a race director: “I loved the job but you don't realise th♛e impact travelling so much has on you. When we last met in 2021, I literally lived on a plane.
“The joys of being🍎 able🔯 to cook a meal at home, being able to catch up with relatives are now open to me.
“My only🐬 living grandparent, Agusta, is 89 and is 10 minutes down the road. She can't speak a word of English and she loves the fact I go to see her and have a coffee with her. Those little things. You don't realise what they mean. Weddings, birthdays.
“When I stopped at the FIA, I told my parents, ‘Those days are do༺ne for m꧂e’.
“I had told them after the Abu Dhabi fallout not to bother reading or watching anythin🌠g. It's not healthy. The place can be a very toxic place.
“In many ways social media can be a great tool💙, but not so great in ot♚hers.
“I have spent time looking after myself. It's done me good. It's what I needed. I spent 🌱a lot of🦩 time getting into physical shape but didn't spend enough on the mental side for a long while.
“There were people I was speak⭕ing to pr𝐆ivately, my then partner - she was an amazing support - and friends and family. As for professional help, I got that, but probably later than I should have done - the latter part of last year, but things had largely calmed down by then.”
Hamilton has in𝔉s🌄isted that he won’t talk to Masi if they meet in Melbourne this weekend.
James was a sports jou🤡rnalist at🍰 Sky Sports for a decade covering everything from American sports, to football, to F1.
