FIA Director Michael Masi Launches Staunch Defence After Christian Horner Criticism

Formula 1 race director Michael Masi has come out in justification of the Yellow flag during the Q3 session in Qatar. The yellow flags came into play after Alpha Tauri driver Pierre Gasly suffered a puncture and rear wing damage in the final sector. Initially, a single yellow was displayed, followed by double yellow when the Frenchman parked on one side of the track.

Valtteri Bottas and Max Verstappen were on their flying laps and did not react optimally to the situation. Both were handed grid penalties. RedBull Boss Christian Horner called the marshal who waved the flag “rogue” after the race. Following the chaos, Masi shared his thoughts about this issue.

Masi believes it was plain and simple

Masi is the FIA race director, so he is naturally at the helm of managing the race weekend. After this controversy unfolded, he came out in the support of the volunteer marshal who displayed the yellow flag. Masi believes that the concerned marshal was “doing the best in their view, he or she, acting in the best interests of keeping everyone safe on the track. And I don’t think anyone should be criticized for acting upon their instincts.”

He even reported Horner to the stewards for his indecent remarks. “I think what the stewards did was react to the situation before them,” Masi said as reported by Motorsport. “If you take a look at what was going on there and everything Pierre did, they acted on instinct knowing what was in store for them.” he added.

Michael Masi tells the procedure and guidelines for a yellow flag situation

The Australian race director went on to elaborate on the procedure and guidelines following the Yellow flag controversy.“All the yellow flags that are activated, are displayed on the track, are in the hands of the stewards’ control, and are in contact with all points in all motorsports in the world. And if they are single or double yellow flags, it is up to those commissioners to determine it. And they judge what they see in front of them. That is why they are there.” said Masi

RedBull advisor Helmut Marko used some harsh words for the ambiguity in the FIA guidelines. Aston Martin driver Sebastian Vettel also called out the double standards in F1 regulations after the Gasly Puncture episode.

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