Max Verstappen has criticised the decision to remove Michael Masi from his role as FIA race director.
The Australian was relieved of his duties last week following a statement by FIA president Mohammed ben Sulayem outlining a series of structural changes.
Lewis Hamilton missed out on a record eighth world title last December largely due to decisions made by Masi during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The move to relieve the Aussie of his duties seems to indicate the sport’s governing body believes what transpired in the final stages of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year was unjust.
As 2021's title decider neared its conclusion, Masi initially instructed that lapped cars could not overtake the safery car until it left the track, meaning there would not have been time for Verstappen to get behind his rival, after a crash involving Nicholas Latifi towards the end of the race.
However, Masi controversially changed his mind, allowing the cars between Hamilton and Verstappen to unlap themselves before ordering the safety car off the track.
Therefore, the 24-year-old could get on the British driver's tail before overtaking him in a one-lap shootout, benefiting from driving on far newer tyres.
There were still more cars that should have been able to unlap themselves, according to the rules.
If these rules had been followed, then the race would likely have finished behind a safety car as it was the final lap, and as Hamilton was in the lead, he would have been crowned champion.
There has been a mixed reaction to Masi’s sacking around the F1 world, and the man who directly benefited from his decision at the Abu Dhabi GP, Max Verstappen, shared his thoughts on the matter.
"Of course people talk about what was decided in Abu Dhabi but can you imagine a referee in whatever sport has the coach or equivalent screaming in his ear all the time?" the Dutchman said.
"'Yellow card, red card, no decision, no foul.' It's impossible to make a decision.
"That F1 allowed that team members could talk to him while making decisions is very wrong. It needed to be Michael making decisions on his own without people screaming in his ear."
He added: "The people who sacked him allowed that in the first place. For me (that) is unacceptable and now to sack him I find it really incredible.
"I feel very sorry for Michael because he was very capable and a good race director.
"I have nothing against the new race directors. They are also very capable and good but I felt sad for Michael and I sent him a text."
The Red Bull team principal Christian Horner shared a similar view, as he labelled the FIA's decision to sack Masi 'harsh'.
