03 April 2024 , 14:49
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Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has labelled Michael Masi a 'pathological egomaniac' in his latest scathing criticism of the former Formula 1 race director.
Masi made the highly-controversial decision to restart the race and allow cars between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen to un-lap themselves in the final outing of the 2021 season - a move which ultimately cost the Mercedes driver an eighth world title. Hamilton was well-placed in the lead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix when a late-race incident saw the safety car emerge and allowed Verstappen to make use of a new set of soft tyres.
It was Masi's decision that was ultimately judged to have cost Hamilton the race in controversial fashion. Unsurprisingly, it prompted a furious response from Wolff in the paddock in the aftermath.
Masi was removed as racing director ahead of the 2022 season after an FIA investigation found 'human error' as the reason why safety car rules were applied incorrectly. Had he followed the letter of the law, the race would have seen Hamilton declared champion with proceedings ending under a safety car.
It does not appear that Wolff is a forgiving character for such instances. The Austrian racing chief told Joshua Robinson in 'The Formula' book that Masi is 'unimportant'.
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Wolff said: "When I think about it again, it's so unfair what happened to Lewis and the team that day. And that one individual didn't follow the rules and just let it happen.
"He's a totally unimportant person: he lives on the other side of the world and no one is interested in him. He really was a completely pathological egomaniac."
He added: "It's drama and glory. That's what makes the sport so irresistible. Everyone saw the drama that an eight-time world champion... they took the title away from him. I would have preferred to see it end differently, but there's no denying that the race has left its mark on history."
Race winner and 2021 F1 World Drivers Champion Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing is congratulated by runner up in the race and championship Lewis Hamilton (Formula 1 via Getty Images)Hamilton has been slightly more diplomatic in his reaction despite acknowledging he was robbed. Speaking to GQ, he described the aftermath of that race as the defining moment of his life.
"Was I robbed? Obviously," he said. "But I think what was really beautiful in that moment, which I take away from it, was my dad was with me. And we'd gone through this huge roller coaster of life together, ups and downs.
"And the day that it hurt the most, he was there, and the way he raised me was to always stand up, keep your head high. And I obviously went to congratulate Max, and not realizing the impact that that would have, but also I was really conscious of, like, there's a mini-me watching.
"This is the defining moment of my life. And I think it really was. I felt it. I didn't know how it was going to be perceived. I hadn't visualised it. But I was definitely conscious of: These next 50 meters that I walk is where I fall to the ground and die—or I rise up."