Ex- Formula 1 race director Michael Masi is reportedly set to land his first job since his contentious exit ahead of the 2022 season. Masi was involved in all sorts of controversy during the 2021 campaign, especially in the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
As a result the Australian’s role in the chaotic title-deciding finish between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton which saw the former secure his first world title led to many calling for him to be sacked. And the FIA listened, after the ex-race director was stripped of his role in February of this year.
Six months on though it seems Masi is set to make a return, with News Corp reporting that the former F1 man is in line to replace Neil Crompton as chair of V8 Supercars.
The news comes a month after Masi confirmed his departure from the FIA in the wake of his sacking earlier this year. Following the controversy surrounding the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Aussie revealed recently that he received death threats in the wake of the race.
Speaking to News Corp he said: “There were some dark days. And absolutely, I felt like I was the most hated man in the world. I got death threats. People saying, they were going to come after me and my family."
He went on: "They were shocking. Racist, abusive, vile, they called me every name under the sun. And they kept on coming. Not just on my Facebook but also on my LinkedIn, which is supposed to be a professional platform for business. It was the same type of abuse."
The race director found himself embroiled, after allowing a number of lapped cars between the leading Hamilton and second place to Verstappen to pass a safety car during the latter stages of the 2021 finale. This left the two fierce rivals to play out a one lap shootout to decide the title, and it was the Dutchman who prevailed despite spending the majority of the race behind the pace of the seven-time world champion.
