Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel has given his backing to Michael Masi to stay on as FIA race director for the 2022 season.
Masi’s job has been on the line since the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and his controversial late call which effectively paved the way for Max Verstappen to pass Lewis Hamilton, win the race and with it an inaugural world title.
There has been conjecture amid an ongoing investigation that the Australia could be axed from his position before next month’s opening race, the Bahrain Grand Prix.
But Vettel said: “It’s not the easiest to be in the shoes of the referee or Michael’s shoes. I think he’s done a great job filling in after Charlie [Whiting, the ex-race director] passed so sudden.
“He’s been very very focused and determined to do a good job. I don’t know what’s his future but I hope he sticks around as overall he did a very good job. I think there’s a lot of contoversy for the last race but there shouldn’t be. If you look at the bigger picure, he’s done very well.”
The off-season has been dominated by talk of what transpired in Abu Dhabi with Hamilton having kept quiet on his views of the matter.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff had warned that the seven-time world champion could walk away from the sport before the season start.
But Vettel said the sport’s rulemakers needed to shift their focus in 2022. He said: “I think the main thing is that we focus on the sport and not so much on the show.
“And the main thing is that going forwards there’s clarity what’s happening in these sorts of situations and no questions asked anymore.”
