Tag: Mercedes

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says Michael Masi was a ‘liability’ for F1 who disrespected drivers

Bella

“He was just immune to any feedback and even today he has not properly reflected that he did something wrong,” says Toto Wolff as he criticises former F1 race director Michael Masi; Tuesday marks four months since Max Verstappen beat Lewis Hamilton in Abu Dhabi

Last Updated: 12/04/22 6:00am


Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says Michael Masi disrespected F1 drivers

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has accused former Formula 1 race director Michael Masi of “disrespecting” drivers by acting like he always knew better.

On Tuesday, it will be four months since Max Verstappen beat Lewis Hamilton to the title in last season’s controversial world championship decider in Abu Dhabi. But Masi’s handling of the affair remains a sore topic for Wolff.

Masi was replaced by the FIA for his role in the 2021 finale, with new race directors Niels Wittich and Edoardo Freitas replacing the Australian on a shared basis and already stamping their authority on the grid with a series of regulation crackdowns.

A review into the final stages of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was critical of how Masi handled the process of letting only five lapped cars – the drivers between Hamilton and Verstappen – overtake before bringing the safety car in for the final lap, allowing the Red Bull driver to pass for the lead and claim his maiden world championship.

Experience the incredible conclusion of the Abu Dhabi GP from on-board Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton's cars and listen to the team radios, including Hamilton saying the race had been 'manipulated'.

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Experience the incredible conclusion of the Abu Dhabi GP from on-board Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton’s cars and listen to the team radios, including Hamilton saying the race had been ‘manipulated’.

Experience the incredible conclusion of the Abu Dhabi GP from on-board Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton’s cars and listen to the team radios, including Hamilton saying the race had been ‘manipulated’.

Wolff’s mind turns to

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Lewis Hamilton turns 37: Formula 1 world awaits update on future as Mercedes driver tipped to return for eighth title after Toto Wolff retirement hint

Bella

Will Lewis Hamilton be back to chase a record-breaking eighth world title?

Lewis Hamilton celebrates his 37th birthday on Friday as puppeteer to an F1 community sitting cross-legged and eager-eyed in anxious wait of an update on his future, with clamour for resolution testament to a sport that needs its record-chaser, its activist, its face.

Radio silence in the wake of last-lap Abu Dhabi heartache has equated to an unofficial, perhaps unconscious ‘You wanted your headline, so here’s mine’ news sovereignty after dropping a retirement hint in his brief post-race presser.

“We gave it everything and never gave up and that’s the most important thing,” said Hamilton. “We’ll see about next year.”

Hamilton has not spoken publicly since, and yet the frenzy surrounding his next steps has seemingly eclipsed celebration of a first-time world champion in Max Verstappen; that being less a reflection of the talented Dutchman or the circumstances of his victory, but more so a reminder of the enormity and importance of F1’s most successful driver.

Here is the moment Sir Lewis Hamilton was knighted by the Prince of Wales for his services to motorsport. He joins Sir Jackie Stewart, Sir Stirling Moss and Sir Jack Brabham as the fourth F1 racer to be knighted

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Here is the moment Sir Lewis Hamilton was knighted by the Prince of Wales for his services to motorsport. He joins Sir Jackie Stewart, Sir Stirling Moss and Sir Jack Brabham as the fourth F1 racer to be knighted

Here is the moment Sir Lewis Hamilton was knighted by the Prince of Wales for his services to motorsport. He joins Sir Jackie Stewart, Sir Stirling Moss and Sir Jack Brabham as the fourth F1 racer to be knighted

Formula 1’s birthday boy and recently-knighted seven-time champion signed a new two-year contract last summer, which kicked in this month, and admitted in September he had considered retirement in the past, noting “there’s other things that I’d like to do, normal stuff I want

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