FIA has removed Micheal Masi from his role as Formula 1 Race Director.
FIA decided this after an investigation into the events of the Abu Dhabi GP, where Masi failed to follow the rules during a late Safety Car period.
Niels Wittich, former DTM race director, and Eduardo Freitas, WEC race director, will act alternatively as F1’s race director, assisted by Herbie Blash as the permanent senior advisor.
FURTHER CHANGES
As well as Masi no longer continuing as Race Director, the FIA will introduce a virtual assistant, similar to football’s VAR, this will have a real-time link to the race director, they will assist the race director with decisions that may require looking at.
Communications from teams to the race director during the race will be banned. This is to allow the race director to complete his role with no pressure from the teams.
The Safety Car and Virtual Safety Car usage will be reviewed in time for the first race at Bahrain.