Former Formula 1 race director Michael Masi quits the sport after Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen title decider controversy

Former Formula 1 race director Michael Masi has permanently left the FIA seventh months on from his part in Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen’s title decider controversy.

Masi was relieved of his duties in February and replaced with seasoned directors Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas, who came from other motorsport series.

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The Australian took a new role with the sport’s governing body, and a month later, a report was released into the scenes in Abu Dhabi concluding there was ‘human error’ involved.

Now though, he has left the organisation entirely, with the FIA thanking him for working in a ‘professional and dedicated manner’.

Their statement read: “The FIA confirms that Michael Masi has decided to leave the FIA and relocate to Australia to be closer to his family and take on new challenges.

“He oversaw a three-year period as FIA Formula 1 Race Director and Safety Delegate following the sudden passing of Charlie Whiting in 2019, carrying out the numerous functions he was tasked with in a professional and dedicated manner.

“The FIA thanks him for his commitment and wishes him the best for the future.â€

Masi took the role after the death of legendary director Whiting, but had a tough task on his hands with 2021 seeing one of the most intense title battles in the sport’s history.

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It also coincided with F1 beginning to broadcast in-race radio communications between Masi and team bosses, revealing heated exchanges with Mercedes’ Toto Wolff and Red Bull’s Christian Horner.

And that blew over for the Abu Dhabi decider in December, at a race where the two title contenders arrived level on points.

However, after a first lap tangle, Hamilton was easing towards victory and his record-breaking eighth world championship with a 12-second lead before disaster struck with a late Nicholas Latifi crash.

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That allowed Verstappen to instantly pit for fresh tyres while Hamilton stayed out, but the Dutchman’s hopes appeared to be over with five lapped cars between him and the Brit, as well as the track under a yellow flag.

Masi then made the unprecedented move of allowing only the five cars to pass, and then called the safety car in, leading to the most jaw-dropping finale the sport has ever seen, and plenty of protests from Mercedes as Verstappen passed to win his maiden title.

In a report published on the eve of the 2022 season beginning in March, the FIA said Masi "acted in good faith and to the best of his knowledge" but conceded there was ‘human error’ due to the pressures surrounding his role.