In its analysis of Abu Dhabi, the FIA has also discussed the radio traffic between Red Bull and Mercedes to Michael Masi, judging it to be disruptive
The FIA has published the conversations between the teams and former Formula One race director Michael Masi which it said went too far in Abu Dhabi. As part of its detailed analysis of the controversial 2021 season finale, it had also looked at the radio traffic Masi faced in the closing minutes.
In his report, they highlighted two discussions that took place with the two protagonists Red Bull and Mercedes.
On lap 56, the FIA highlighted a conversation between Masi, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley. This took place when it was announced that lapped cars would not be allowed to overtake. The conversation looked like this:
Horner: “Christian to Michael.”
Masi: “Yeah, go ahead, Christian.”
Horner: “Why don’t we get these lapped cars out of the way?”
Masi: “Give me … Because Christian … Give me a second … Okay, the most important thing is that we get rid of the accident.”
Horner: “You just need one lap of the race.”
Masi: “Yeah.”
Wheatley: “Those lapped cars, you don’t have to … It doesn’t matter if they don’t make up the whole lap and rejoin the field from the back.”
Masi: “Roger that.”
Wheatley: “You’ve got to let them go …”
Masi: “Copy that. Give us a second.”
Wheatley: “… then we have a car race.”
Masi: “Roger that. “
On the following lap, the five cars were allowed to lap back between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, so Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff contacted Masi.
Wolff: “Michael. Michael, this is not right. Michael, that’s absolutely not right. This is absolutely not right.”
Immediately the safety car had returned to the pits, there was another message.
Wolff: “He just overtook behind the safety car. “
FIA: talks were distracting
According to the FIA report, these two conversations provided unwanted additional pressure on Masi at a critical stage, distracting him from his work.
It states:“Those involved in the detailed analysis and clarification agreed that the respective communications from the Red Bull and Mercedes team principals to the Race Direction in the final laps of the Abu Dhabi 2021 Grand Prix had a negative impact on the smooth running of the final laps as they were distracting while the Race Direction had to focus on difficult and time-pressured decisions.”
The FIA added: “It was determined that these communications were neither necessary nor helpful to the smooth running of the race. “
Communications will be restricted
“Rather, the consensus was that they were pressuring the Clerk of the Course at a critical time (that is, at a time when the Clerk of the Course must simultaneously monitor the cars on the track, the waving of the appropriate flags, and the progress of the stewards in clearing the track, and also liaise with the Clerk of the Course regarding the end of the safety car period) and could attempt to influence (whether directly or indirectly, or intentionally or unintentionally) the decisions of the Clerk of the Course. “
“Against this background, those involved in the detailed analysis and clarification agreed that communication between the Formula One teams on the one hand and the Race Director on the other should be restricted during a race so that the Race Director can perform his important task without unnecessary interruptions and distractions.”
For the Formula One season starting today in Bahrain, the FIA has changed its procedures. Teams now no longer have a direct line to the race director. All conversations between teams and race officials will be conducted through another race official who will relay important information to the race official.
