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Michael Masi struggled mentally after FIA sacking

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Michael Masi f1 news
Michael Masi. Photo/Planet F1
  • Former F1 racing director Michael Masi kept off the public eye since 2021 controversy following Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
  • Masi came under fire from several quarters over Red Bull 2021 title championship
  • He now lives a quiet life

Since the news controversy that rocked the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix handing Max Verstappen his first title championship over Lewis Hamilton, not much has been seen of former F1 racing director Michael Masi.

Masi came under fire from several quarters, among them Mercedes which decried an intentional and planned move to deny them an eighth title championship.

He came under criticism due to his choices on Safety Car that allowed Verstappen to overtake Hamilton and lead in the determining race.

Just before 2022 started, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem announced that Masi would no longer serve as the racing director of Formula One. He became the chairman of the Supercars Commission after this.

WHAT DID MICHAEL MASI DO AFTER ABU DHABI CONTROVERSY?

Michael Masi

Michael Masi. Photo/New York Times

After being criticised for his judgements in Abu Dhabi, and his subsequent sacking as the race director,  he moved to a friend’s house. He lived in London’s Elephant and Castle neighbourhood where he spent most of his time cooking.

There was so much bile online and in the streets that he feared for his life. That’s when he decided to stay at a friend’s house instead of hiring security.

WHERE IS MICHAEL MASI NOW?

He is currently in Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne’s Albert Park paddock. This is the first time he is getting back in the paddock following the incident in 2021. Surprisingly, former colleagues in Formula One and FIA welcomed him graciously, something he did not expect.

“I was a little nervous on Wednesday when I first came in, but you have seen with your own eyes the kind reception,” Daily Mail Sport reports.

While in Melbourne, he ambles a few metres from Hamilton without a word. The Mercedes driver says he has no reason to talk to him adding that his focus is on the future.

HOW DID MICHAEL MASI COPE AFTER FIRING AS F1 RACING DIRECTOR?

The Abu Dhabi fiasco was hard on him and he asked his parents to keep off watching TV and social media as anger on his leadership brewed there. The 44-year-old Australian focused more on his physical wellness and exercised a lot but forgot about his mental struggles.

“I have spent time looking after myself. It’s done me good. It’s what I needed. I spent a lot of time getting into physical shape but didn’t spend enough on the mental side for a long while,” he recalls.

Michael Masi

Michael Masi. Photo/Autosport

His partner at the time, friends and family supported him and he eventually sought for help from a professional when things took a downturn. He sought therapy in 2022 and blames himself for not getting help much earlier.

So bad was the mental toll on him that he kept off from watching F1 races until the end of the 2022 season. Masi says that he has had a better life since his exit as a racing director. He no longer deals with the stress of travelling and the anguish of the infamous Abu Dhabi controversy.

While he loved his work, the constant travelling took a toll on him because he was always on a plane. However, with his new role, he has a lot of time to spend with his family and eat self-made meals.

Masi also visits his only surviving 89-year-old grandmother frequently since she lives 10 minutes away from his residence. Would Masi want his old job back? A part of him would want to but life on the other side is so good for him that he bearly entertains the idea of going back to ‘living on the plane’.

As for Hamilton, the two seasons that followed haven’t been kind to him as he has to deal with myriad car issues.

Teresa is a journalist with years of experience in creating web content. She is a wanderlust at heart, but an outgoing sports writer with focus on tennis, athletics, football, motorsports and NBA.

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