Michael Masi

Michael Fausto Masi(born 8 June 1978) is an Australian motorsports official. Masi served as Formula Onerace directorfrom 2019 to 2021. In this role, Masi oversaw the logistics of aFormula One racingweekend, ensuring all cars, tracks, and drivers conform to FIA regulations before, during, and after a race.Masi was removed from his position following anFIAanalysis into his failure to correctly follow the safety car restart procedure at the2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Masi was born inSydneyin 1978 and is of Italian descent. Growing up in the suburbs ofFairfieldandCanada Bay, and attendedPatrician Brothers' College, Fairfield. Masi initially studiedmarketingatTAFEbefore his roles in motorsport.
Masi began his career in motor racing volunteering forSuper Touringteams while still at school. He worked as deputy race director in theSupercarstouring car racingseriesand atRally Australia.In 2018, he was appointed by the FIA as theFormula 2andFormula 3deputy race director, and was appointed deputy to F1 race directorCharlie Whiting.Masi alternated in this role between Grands Prix withScot Elkins, who would become the race director forFormula Eand theDeutsche Tourenwagen Masters.
Following Whiting's death before the2019 Australian Grand Prix, Masi took on the role ofFormula Onerace director.
Several of Masi's decisions as race director were subject to scrutiny from drivers, teams, and press. During the2020 Turkish Grand Prixqualifying session, cars were sent out on track while a crane was still on the track.During the 2021 season, Masi was required to defend the red flag procedures used during the2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.In the2021 Belgian Grand Prix, Masi was criticised for running qualifying in dangerous conditions, and then running the race behind the safety car for three laps, allegedly to ensure points were awarded.He was criticized for negotiating with teams to change positions during the2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.The following week, Masi's failure to correctly apply the re-start rules in the resumption of the race following a safety car period during the final lap of the2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prixwas criticised for potentially altering championship results.Mercedesprotested the result; the protest was not upheld.
On 17 February 2022, Masi was removed from his role as Race Director following an FIA analysis into the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.He was replaced byNiels WittichandEduardo Freitasas race directors on an alternating basis for the 2022 Formula One season, andHerbie Blashas Permanent Senior Advisor to them.A new position within the FIA was offered to Masi.
On 19 March 2022, the FIA published their official report into the Abu Dhabi controversy, concluding that Masi had incorrectly applied regulations, in that not all lapped cars had unlapped themselves, and the safety car had not completed one additional lap before coming back into the pitlane. The report attributed these matters to human error.
Mercedes bossToto Wolffsubsequently referred to Masi as having been a "liability" to Formula One and stated that Masi did not take well to receiving feedback or criticism from anybody, as well as suggesting that he had acted disrespectfully at times towards some drivers in briefings.
In July 2022, Masi left the FIA in order to return toAustraliaand spend more time with his family.In September, Masi was appointed the independent Chairman of the Supercars Commission in Australia.He was appointed to the board of directors of Karting Australia in December.Due to the abuse and death threats he received after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and the exhaustion of travelling to different countries as race director, Masi sought help with his mental health.
During the 2023 Formula One Australian Grand Prix, Masi sought to meet with Hamilton in an effort to explain his decisions during the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Hamilton chose not to meet Masi, saying there was "nothing to say".