Toto Wolff is so furious with Michael Masi that he ‘doesn’t want to speak to him again.'
His controversial decision at last year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix cost Lewis Hamilton a record eighth F1 world championship.
As 2021's title decider neared its conclusion, Masi initially instructed that lapped cars could not overtake the safety car until it left the track.
Therefore, there would not have been time for Max 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.
Wolff was raging after the decision was made and despite Mercedes lodging protests after the race, they were rejected by the FIA.
However, after an enquiry into the events that transpired at the Yas Marina Circuit last December, FIA president Mohammed bin Sulayem announced last month that Masi would be sacked as race director.
In the new “Duel: Hamilton vs Verstappen,” documentary, Wolff shares exactly how he feels about Masi.
“I haven’t spoken to him and I don’t want to speak to him ever again,” he added.
“His decisions were wrong and I’m sure that he regrets them. The FIA should have seen much earlier that there was a problem.
“There was a problem with the structure. There was a problem of personalities.”
Hamilton could be heard on his team radio saying the race had been “manipulated” after Masi’s decisions denied him a record title, and Wolff echoed his sentiments.
“It’s like a football game that is 1-0 for one team and suddenly the referee says, ‘now it’s golden goal. 0-0, whoever scores the next goal wins,’” he stated.
“‘And by the way, we have to play without boots.'”
Masi has been replaced by Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas, who will alternate as race director, while Herbie Blash will be serving as the senior advisor.
