Masi loses support due to controversial moments, finds Brundle

As if the 2021 Formula 1 season didn't have enough controversial moments already, the final stage of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was even more controversial. The safety car following Nicholas Latifi's crash indirectly secured the world title for Max Verstappen at the expense of Lewis Hamilton. According to Martin Brundle something has to change.

Masi loses support and prestige

Brundle looks back in his new column for Sky Sports Brundle looks back on the apotheosis of the season. The former Formula One driver is not happy with the way the championship was now decided. "Instead of what should have been one of the greatest F1 moments ever, we got anger and confusion," writes the Brit.

Brundle goes so far in his column as to say that he feels Masi has now lost a lot of support and prestige due to the various controversial moments this season. "If Masi wants to continue, and Formula One and the FIA want to stick with him, then things have to change." He understands the difficult circumstances under which Masi was able to make his decisions, but he would still have liked things to be different.

Race committee harassed by teams

An additional difficulty for the race committee is the contact the team bosses have with Masi. According to Brundle the teams don't seem to be afraid to protest to the race director anymore, which they do constantly. In the past teams were afraid of the clause that said you couldn't bring the sport into disrepute. Something that happened with the excesses of for example Toto Wolff over the radio.

Red flag instead of safety car

For the situation in Abu Dhabi, Brundle himself had another solution, namely a red flag and stopping the race. "So that everyone could reset, the track could be cleared and we would have a direct duel for the championship on the same tyres, from a standing start."

That's not how it went in any case and the situation created a huge advantage for Verstappen. Brundle therefore understands that Mercedes felt aggrieved. "Just as Red Bull would have done if the race had ended behind the safety car," he said.