F1 race director Michael Masi will be replaced for the 2022 season, the FIA, F1's governing body, announced on Thursday. The change in leadership comes two months after a controversial finish to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ended with Max Verstappen holding off Lewis Hamilton in a one-lap shootout to win his first championship amid protests from Mercedes.Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas, race directors of the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters and World Endurance Championship, respectively, will alternate as F1 race director, assisted by permanent senior adviser Herbie Blash, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said. In addition, a virtual race control room will be created to assist the race director, similar to the video assistant referee (VAR) used around the world in soccer, he said. Masi will be offered a new position in the FIA.The FIA analyzed the end of the race in Abu Dhabi after Masi's handling of the safety car procedures drew protest from Mercedes. Other changes to refereeing include the removal of direct radio communications during the race (currently broadcast live) to "protect the race director from any pressure and allow him to take decisions peacefully." Unlapping procedures behind the safety car will be reassessed and presented to the F1 Commission prior to the start of the season."With this plan, FIA opens the way for a new step forward in Formula 1 racing," Ben Sulayem said. "Without the referees, there is no sport."(Photo: Bryn Lennon / Getty Images)
