FIA race director, Michael Masi has reacted to Lewis Hamilton's claim that he is being victimised by the sport's powers that be.

Speaking in the moments after the Russian Grand Prix and again at the subsequent official press conference, the world champion claimed that the sport's powers that be were "trying to stop" him.

His comments came in the wake of two time penalties, for an incident before the race, which effectively ended any chance of winning.

"From my perspective it's very simple that if Lewis wants to raise something - as I have said to him before and said to all the drivers numerous times - the door is always open," said Masi.

"I'm more than happy to discuss anything," he continued, "but I think from an FIA perspective we are there as a sporting regulator to administer the regulations.

"We have the stewards as an independent judiciary to adjudicate those, and therefore there was an infringement and it doesn't matter if it was Lewis Hamilton or any one of the other 19 drivers, if a breach has occurred of the regulations they will consider it on its merits.

"And further to that I would say adjudicate it equitably and fairly in the circumstances, taking all of the key elements into account."

Referring to Hamilton's claim that he has never been penalised for performing practice starts further down the pitlane at other events, Masi said: "The practice start location is obviously very circuit specific and detailed in the event notes.

"So at every other event Lewis has, along with all the other drivers, complied with the requirements of where they perform a practice start in accordance with the race director instructions.

"I would say that the reason why we determine where the practice start location is is for the safety of all drivers, and also so everybody is aware of what is actually happening. We determine its location for a deliberate reason."

The Australian also clarified that the 'double penalty' wasn't for performing two starts but because by stopping where he to perform them, Hamilton contravened a separate regulation.

"Actually it wasn't a second penalty," said Masi. "There was a breach of two elements of the regulations that were highlighted. One being the article within the race director's event notes, the second being Article 36.1 of the Sporting Regulations that states you must keep a constant speed through the pit exit road, the pit exit road being defined by being where the red lights are at pit exit through to the Safety Car line."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Pavlo, 29/09/2020 13:23

"As one famous football trainer from Ukraine said, "if you feel that referee is helping the other team, just play flawlessly correct so that there is no chance to penalize you". And he won a lot.
Lewis is no doubt one of the (if not "just the") best drivers, and he has the best car. Unlike others, it's easier for him to afford following the rules. Who if not him will show an example of sportsmanship?
You broke the rules, just accept and move on. Be flawless next race."

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2. Posted by hussainahm, 29/09/2020 9:30

"Although I expect Lewis to still win the championship, at least the gap has closed a bit to Valterri and I hope the title is decided in the last race."

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3. Posted by kenji, 29/09/2020 1:06

"To claim that Masi , plus all the stewards, have formed a conspiracy to take Hamilton down is just plain silly and uninformed. If Wolff and Hamilton believe that they've been stiffed then lodge an appeal...but they won't because the rules have been read correctly. If the penalty had been added after the race then in effect Hamilton/Mercedes would've been allowed to race with the benefit of an unfair advantage. The stewards discussed the issue with Wolff and Hamilton after the race and accepted that it was the team who advised Hamilton and they adjusted the penalty points which proves that when faced with 'facts' they are willing to adjust their decision. To cap the incident, Shovlin knew that they were in trouble and he said so. Mercedes took a gamble and it resulted in blowback. Suck it up chaps and move on."

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4. Posted by KKK, 28/09/2020 22:16

"Masi knew what he was doing would affect the race. He only did it to make it a spectacle. If I was him I would consider resigning. The penalty could have been added after the race, after consulting with the team.
It was totally wrong."

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5. Posted by Great_white_shark, 28/09/2020 20:13

"But in fairness Toto had some very good points. It is very unusual to be penalised during the race for something that happened before the race and in the rules nothing really specifies exactly where you can or cannot practice starts. It is opened to interpretation and the punishment seems a bit severe all things considered.

I am curious to know how that was more dangerous than Leclerc driving a couple of laps with his seatbelt undone after his car randomly switched off mid-corner. "

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6. Posted by SuzukaS2K, 28/09/2020 17:48

"It's rather disingenuous of Hamilton and his 90 wins to claim that the Man is out to get him. He's more than fast enough to avoid the need for this victim mentality BS."

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Masi reacts to Hamilton's victimisation claim

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