On Thursday, the FIA announced Masi would be no longer race director for the upcoming season as part of a wider restructuring꧒ of🐻 how it monitors F1 grands prix.

Mercedes initially protested tಌhe result of the Abu Dhabi GP after Max Verstappen beat Lewis Hamilton to the title, benefitting from a late Safety Car period with the procedure under iಞt not followed correctly by Masi.

Mercedes appealed the result before withdraꩵwing ahead 🎃of the FIA’s prize giving gala on the Thursday after the race at the Yas Marina Circuit in December.

Speaking after the launch of Mercedes 2022 challenger - the W13 - Wolff dismissed any suggestions that the team’s decision to drop the appeal was linked to anyone l🌠eaving the FIAಞ.

“Us dropping the appeal linked to anyone leaving the FIA is not true,” Wolff said. “I don’t know where that comes [from]. I think that the restructuring within how decisions are being made in Formula 1, sporting decisions, have been made, and also techಌnical decisions were necessary.

“Last year was a great season but it created a lot of pola🍌risation 🔥with decisions that were not always easy to understand.”

As part of the FIA’s new structure, it will ha🍸ve two new race directors that will alternate wh𓂃ile the experienced Herbie Blash returns to the team - he worked alongside former race director Charlie Whiting.

The FIA has also introduced a virtual race control room - similar to VAR in football - to assist with decision-making at race weekends🅺.

Wolff be♉lieves the “the right steps have been taken” by the FIA.

“I believe that the right stepsᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ have been taken and I am optimistic about the changes that have been implemented,” Wolff added. “Certainly the role of a race director is not easy, and now having two very experienced guys up there, that is good, but the support structure that has been built around them is essential. Not only in the race director room but with a remote control room, where the race directors can rely on feedback and input to make the decision-making process ea🍌sier for them.

“I believe the last few years, couple of yᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚears, we have seen a little bit of freesty൲le in the interpretation of the regulations so yes, I’m happy with what has been implemented by the incoming president.”