FIA president, Mohammed ben Sulayem has admitted that controversial race director Michael Masi could return.

The Australian was dropped as F1 race director in the wake of the controversial Abu Dhabi Grand Prix of 2021, blamed by many for one of the most controversial decisions in sporting history.

While the subsequent investigation didn't name him personally, instead opting for "human error", Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, Lewis Hamilton and millions of F1 fans did.

Masi has never told his side of the saga and heading back down under, where he has been involved in Supercars and Karting, would only reveal that in the wake of the Abu Dhabi controversy he suffered mental health issues as ressult of the abuse he was subjected to.

Ben Sulayem was elected president of the FIA just days after the race and speaking to PA Sports has admitted that Masi could yet return to the FIA fold.

"I always apologise, but I cannot apologise for something which was done before my time," he said.

"OK, I will do the apology, but I will bring Michael Masi again. Do you think that is right? The poor guy is a person who has been attacked and abused. Michael Masi went through hell. Hell! And if I see there is an opportunity that the FIA needs, and Michael Masi is the right person, I will bring him."

While at Pitpass we have always believed that as opposed to being biased against Hamilton and Mercedes, Masi was acting on orders from above, nonetheless we are still puzzled by ben Sulayem's subsequent football analogy in terms of what happened that night in December 2021.

"I had people threatening to kill me because I had the power to change it," he said of the Abu Dhabi result. "But I said to them: 'Sorry, the World Cup of 1966, England against Germany, was that correct? Did they change it? No. Did they give it to Germany? Nein.'"

If we're talking England and World Cups, perhaps ben Sulayem should watch the infamous quarter final game with Argentina of 1986.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by kenji, 05/12/2023 12:18

"As the debate continues I am finding it difficult to understand the conclusions that some posters have arrived at. Those who support the Mercedes version have not, IMO, advanced a single FACT supporting what Masi decided was anything other that a decision that he was free to make according to his interpretation of the situation. Yes, there are many questions but after all this time no one, to date, has nailed Masi as corrupt. Mercedes can always seek to file a charge but they haven't, ever since the actual event! Surely, with what was at stake, they'd be champing at the bit...but no. Just ask yourself one question...WHY? Not a peep other than sniping from the sidelines. An extremely low rent approach. . against the man himself."

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2. Posted by didaho, 05/12/2023 1:51

"@Burton Masi cut his teeth at Supercars and they certainly prefer a grandstand finish over an actual race - Bathurst isn't Bathurst until the lottery results come in. I'm glad he's gone."

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3. Posted by Defiant, 04/12/2023 17:49

"@Ed, I keep hoping that you're right about Sulayem but like you, I'm not convinced quite yet. We really really need someone to stop FIBerty's march to destruction.

@kenji, I hope that this is all urine into the wind about Massi, because I certainly don't want him back. I don't believe it was a human error, I think he folded under pressure from FIBerty as @Burton suggested. I do however agree with the comments about the knee etc. F1 does not need that bs.

I think @Chester makes a very good observation, it may be a game of chess playing out in the media.

"

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4. Posted by Bill Hopgood, 04/12/2023 6:11

"Sulayem perhaps could have used the recent rugby world cup final as an example, where the TMO went back more phases than the rules state to disallow a try.
Aside from "that race" Masi did a good job so if the opportunity arises for him to have another go, so be it though I'm not sure he'd want to.
Regarding viewing figures, F1 has fallen victim to the "Schumacher factor" when one driver keeps on winning all the races which is a turn off regarding the sporting spectacle for the casual viewer that is hoping for MotoGP, British Touring cars or NASCAR where others have a chance.
Banging on about which team finishes second, third and even seventh as the Sky commentators kept doing just reminded everyone of the trousers down six of the best thrashing those teams got."

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5. Posted by Superbird70, 04/12/2023 0:32

"@kenji, This is turning into the typical movie franchise problem, Jaws >Jaws 2 >Jaws 3-D> Jaws: The Revenge or any Marvel movie after Ironman. The US adage more and bigger is always better. Soon we'll be back to only 20 races a year but 10 will be in the USA."

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6. Posted by kenji, 03/12/2023 11:45

"@Ed....Ben Sulayem's comments re Masi you have labelled as provocative. I agree with you and that is a welcome strategy by the head of the FIA. Sulayem is no patsy and ATM he maintains a tenuous hold on the future of F1. Little by little, inch by inch, Liberty are implementing the 'blockbusterisation' of F1. This is what heavyweight movie studios have done inthe past and still continue to this very day, They sell experiences. The only major difference is the casting and basic plot lines. If the FIA lose any more control then F1 really is in deep merde. Given the choice I'd go with the FIA every day. I have no problem with all the 'hoopla' presented in Las Vegas. That's America for the Americans, but hopefully it can be contained from polluting other venues. "

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7. Posted by Editor, 03/12/2023 10:56

"Be it the Andretti saga or the $20bn valuation of the sport, Ben Sulayem has shown that he is not willing to roll over for Liberty... indeed, his comment about Masi's posssible return has to be seen as provocative.

I'm not saying he's the man but we ned someone to stop the destruction of the sport as we know it.

And in my personal opnion it is being destroyed.

The latest ESPN press release conveniently doesn't disclose how much the 2023 audience has fallen by compared to 2022.

It has definitely fallen because last month they revealed that across the first 19 races of the year, the average audience per race was down 7%... So not only has Liberty added two races and all that razzmatazz to pander to an audience which represents just 1.6% of the total (1.1m out of 70.5m) but that audience has dropped by around 7% this year."

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8. Posted by kenji, 03/12/2023 10:48

"@ED...Thanks for the reminder re Sulayem appointment. I had totally forgotten the timing. Nevertheless Sulayem carried out the interrogation and made the announcements being Masi's superior. As for the listed ingredients wished for by all the promoters they are all perfectly aligned consistent with major entertainment based business goals. F1 is a business and possibly a sport second. That's the way it is unfortunately. At least we were spared a lot of the 'woke' nonsense that threatened to damage the whole show. Not one 'knee' in '23."

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9. Posted by Editor, 03/12/2023 10:03

"@ Kenji

Ben Sulayem wasn't appointed until days after the race.

When we say "from above" we are not - and never were - referring to the FIA but instead to that party which seeks spice, excitement, drama, thrills, incidents, great TV, more younger fans, controversy, publicity and thereby cash."

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10. Posted by kenji, 03/12/2023 5:13

"@ Burton...the job of being Race Director comes with implicit inbuilt issues [ pressures ] that are fully understood. What absolutely dumbfounds me though is that Mercedes are purported to have had, inside their garage as a 'guest' a very high level lawyer/barrister. Maybe just a coincidence!!!. The absolute rage following the race result and the claim by Hamilton that the race result was 'manipulated' strangely enough did not spark an immediate appeal post race.
. Why was that? Masi was an FIA appointee and if he was in any way 'influenced' inappropriately why has there never been any legal challenge issued against the FIA?. The details of the inquiry/debrief and analysis by the FIA has never been made public. In my book then Masi is innocent of any malpractice until proven beyond doubt that he wilfully acted to the detriment of one particular team. If and when that is publically acknowledged I will accept it 100%. As has been mooted, that Masi was acting on 'orders from above' [ Sulayem was his superior I believe ] then why hasn't that been front and centre of any post race enquiry? Mercedes, posing as the aggrieved party, would surely have pursued this avenue with committed zealotry and still nothing new published.

I would love to see Masi back in the FIA ranks at each and every race just to prove a point that one is innocent until proven guilty. Wolff should take legal action and let the courts decide....but will he? The computer says 'no'."

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11. Posted by Burton, 02/12/2023 14:43

"Kenji, the possible "orders from above" to consider a grandstand finish, as mentioned in the article. Plus the constant nagging from Wheatley and the other team managers over the radio...sounds like pressure to me."

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12. Posted by kenji, 02/12/2023 14:34

"@ Burton...folded under pressure? Que."

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13. Posted by Burton, 02/12/2023 13:22

"Why bring someone back who, in the most charitable reading, folded under pressure? There's so much talent out there in the world, F1 is already enough of a "same old lads" club as it is..."

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14. Posted by kenji, 02/12/2023 2:14

"OOOps, sorry chaps. ''Controversial' and 'has' instead of ''was. As time goes by its become even more apparent that Wolff has far too much influence! ATM he's living off past exploits. Time for change. Bring on the Andretti/Cadillac combo and lets see what they're made of! "

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15. Posted by Chester, 01/12/2023 15:08

"ben Sulaymen may be politically trying to get Mercedes to stop blocking Andretti/Cadillac. What CEO's say in public is rarely what they truly feel."

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Masi could return, admits Ben Sulayem

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