
via Getty
NUERBURG, GERMANY – OCTOBER 11: Second placed Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing talks with Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner, Masashi Yamamoto of Honda and Red Bull Racing Team Consultant Dr Helmut Marko in parc ferme during the F1 Eifel Grand Prix at Nuerburgring in Nuerburg, Germany. (Photo by Dan Istitene – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)

via Getty
NUERBURG, GERMANY – OCTOBER 11: Second placed Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing talks with Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner, Masashi Yamamoto of Honda and Red Bull Racing Team Consultant Dr Helmut Marko in parc ferme during the F1 Eifel Grand Prix at Nuerburgring in Nuerburg, Germany. (Photo by Dan Istitene – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
The 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will go down as one of the most controversial races in F1 history. The race was the season finale of an already tense and tight season. Everything was going smoothly until the last lap when FIA Race Director Michael Masi made a controversial decision.
He has received a lot of criticism on how he handled the last laps of the race, many even asking him to step down. But Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko believes that Masi should continue with his job.
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Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko defends Michael Masi after his Abu Dhabi disaster
As reported by Gazzetta, Masi made some controversial decisions leading up to the finale as well. Marko believes that the system needs to be revised rather than Masi.
“Yes, the system just needs to be revised. There is too much weight on his shoulders. Also, team principals and team managers shouldn’t be allowed to talk to Masi during the race,” said Marko.

via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – December 9, 2021, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, Head of Red Bull’s driver development program Helmut Marko and Honda’s F1 Managing Director Masashi Yamamoto during a team photo ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
“Then the rules need to be simplified. A lot of decisions this year have displeased us or Mercedes in turn. We need to establish uniformity of judgment, “ said Marko.
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He mentioned it was not because of Michael Masi that Lewis Hamilton lost the title. He stated Hamilton was just unlucky like Red Bull were earlier in the year.
“Hamilton was undoubtedly unlucky in Abu Dhabi, but we were unlucky in Silverstone, Budapest, and Baku. These are the races. I understand their regret. Now it is up to the team, FIA, for the new president to work on a system that helps Michael Masi because he cannot do everything alone,” said the Red Bull advisor.
It is interesting to see Marko come out to defend Masi after they won the world championship. Would he have said the same thing if they had lost?
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Do you agree with Marko? Let us know.
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