The FIA is presently conducting a full investigation into the occasions late within the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that noticed the race restart in controversial trend and finally resolve the world champion as Max Verstappen handed Lewis Hamilton on the ultimate lap of the race.
It has left race director Michael Masi dealing with an unsure future, whereas it’s anticipated the FIA will restructure its F1 operations to supply better help to race management shifting ahead.
Aston Martin driver Sebastian Vettel stated on Thursday that he hoped Masi would proceed as race director, however famous the necessity for the principles to be clarified after two articles of the sporting laws regarding vehicles unlapping themselves weren’t carried out.
Discussing Abu Dhabi on Friday on the launch of McLaren’s new MCL36 F1 automotive, Ricciardo stated he thought there was “an excessive amount of stress” being positioned on race management.
“The game generally has much more publicity now, which is nice in some components, but it surely additionally in all probability places others below stress who in all probability aren’t asking for the stress or aren’t used to it,” Ricciardo stated.
“It’s onerous to look again in time and suppose when was a race director or steward a lot within the media. It was fairly distinctive and form of unknown territory.
“I don’t know if the phrase is unfair or what, however I feel that’s the place there was already a little bit of a ripple within the scenario. So I feel that it highlighted among the stuff perhaps an excessive amount of, after which put stress on the following scenario extra.
“It already simply felt a bit of bit intense, and I really feel like everybody ought to in all probability simply take a step again. We’re all assigned roles and no matter, and it’s like that individual is there for a motive, that individual is there, allow them to do it.”
Michael Masi, Race Director, walks the monitor with an FIA colleague
Picture by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Pictures
All through the closing phases of the race, officers from each Purple Bull and Mercedes had been heard lobbying Masi over the radio in regards to the race restart. Ricciardo felt there was “a whole lot of interference” that “in all probability made it extra messy than it ought to have been”.
He added that there wanted to be “much less interference, simply generally, and let folks get on with it, in all probability with much less stress, after which see what the end result is.”
Ricciardo’s McLaren teammate, Lando Norris, careworn the necessity for consistency within the guidelines, however stated that “99% of issues are excellent” and consideration should be given for human error.
“The plain factor that all of us need is simply consistency, and when one thing is inconsistent like that weekend is when folks get irritated or pissed off,” Norris stated.
“We simply need that consistency. You see us make errors as drivers, and naturally it’s simple for folks to note that and to see these issues, and it’s the identical with them. It’s not simple and it’s human to make errors.
“I help Michael, and I feel a whole lot of different issues he did had been nice final season, or previously few seasons we’ve been working with him.
“It’s simply ironing out these small issues which might have a big effect in fact, which isn’t one thing we would like. Method 1 must be stored to a really excessive philosophy and success and so forth.
“It’s nonetheless one thing that’s being talked about, and issues are ongoing and altering. So we’ll see quickly.”
Sharing his ideas on Masi, Ricciardo stated: “In the end if Michael needs to remain, then he ought to keep. I don’t suppose one occasion must be the image of every part, if you recognize what I imply.
“I had the entrance row seat for some motive, being proper behind them [Hamilton and Verstappen]. I used to be like wow is that this actually taking place, that is nuts. I watched it on TV in 2008 with [Felipe] Massa and Lewis, and I used to be like that might by no means occur once more, and clearly it did.
“It was a second in time for positive, and never everybody was going to understand that second in time.
“However I feel lovers of the game are nonetheless going to be lovers of the game, and are in all probability greater than something curious to see what occurs in 2022.”
The following probability for groups to debate potential adjustments for this 12 months with the sequence’ bosses will come on the F1 Fee assembly, which takes place on Monday.