WOKING, England — McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo mentioned F1 race director Michael Masi wants help in his position to keep away from a repeat of the farcical end to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Masi’s future within the job is at present in query after he botched the end of the title decider between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton final yr. The race was settled by a one-lap dash, which noticed Verstappen go Hamilton to win the title, when the foundations had been incorrectly utilized.
An FIA investigation into how Masi’s choice making affected the end result continues to be ongoing.
On Thursday, four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel defended Masi and mentioned he shouldn’t lose his job on the premise of 1 mistake. Ricciardo mentioned Masi was in a lose-lose state of affairs in Abu Dhabi.
“It is sort of a bit like a referee — you may’t win,” Ricciardo instructed ESPN forward of McLaren’s 2022 automobile launch. “You are all the time going to have somebody in opposition to you, it is a little bit bit like that.
“I’ve by no means sat by means of race management throughout a race so I do not understand how a lot is happening. However I suppose in my head, making an attempt to know all of it, some help might be a little bit of a easy resolution to try to assist out.”
Ricciardo mentioned he by no means realised how a lot work Masi takes on between races till bumping into his fellow Australian final yr.
“He was telling me his schedule, the place he is been and the place he is going, and the quantity of touring he is doing to venues earlier than we get there. Backwards and forwards, checking this and that. His schedule is nuts. That in itself, you’ve got then received fatigue and all the pieces else…. Making massive choices is already fairly tough and sophisticated. So most likely some help is the first step for that.”
Ricciardo’s teammate Lando Norris mentioned he hopes to see Masi proceed within the position into 2022 and past.
“He is been nice for lots of issues,” Norris instructed ESPN. “He received thrown in three years in the past and naturally, from my perspective, he is carried out a greater job each season.
“It is most likely the primary time issues haven’t gone to plan. We all the time anticipate lots as drivers as we all the time need issues to be good so once they’re not, we’re gonna complain and do on.
“He is a pleasant man, he does what he can. It might be a disgrace to see him go however I am certain he is gonna stick round.”
On the end result of Abu Dhabi, Norris added: “Each deserved to win. Each did an especially good job. I believe Max was a really worthy winner. On the day, Lewis did initially the higher job, however then how issues turned out…”