Breaking news
Formula 1
Masi hits back at Hamilton's "offensive" safety claims
F1 race director Michael Masi has dismissed as "offensive" suggestions that the FIA is trying to spice up the show at the expense of safety.
Adam Cooper
Published: Sep 15, 2020, 10:11 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
After the restart crash in the Tuscan GP several drivers suggested that the safety car lights have been turned out later in the lap than usual this season to make for a closer restart, and that the bunching up that resulted contributed to the accident.
Race winner Lewis Hamilton insisted that the crash was not triggered by then leader Valtteri Bottas, who has the right to set the pace.
"It's absolutely not Valtteri's fault at all," he said. "It's the decision makers. I don't know who.
"They're obviously trying to make it more exciting, but ultimately today you've seen they've put people at risk. So, perhaps they need to rethink that."
Masi is adamant that the FIA would never compromise safety matters.
"Absolutely not," said the Australian. "From an FIA perspective, safety is paramount full stop. And that's end of story.
"In my capacity as the race director and safety delegate, point blank, that's where my role sits, it's with the sporting integrity and safety.
"And anyone that says otherwise is actually quite offensive personally."
Read Also:
Masi also stressed there was no pattern behind the sport experiencing three red flags in two weekends, noting that the Charles Leclerc crash at Monza and the Lance Stroll incident at Mugello both led to lengthy barrier repairs.
"I suggest it's very much a coincidence," he said. "If we look at it quite logically, the one in Monza very simply was to repair the safety barrier that was damaged.
"And yes, you could do 20 laps under safety car to repair a damaged barrier, which I don't think is in anyone's best interest, or you can suspend the race, if all the works can be done to repair the safety infrastructure, and then you continue.
"And that was the case for two of the three red flags that we've had. So with Lance's incident that took place, there was damage to the barrier.
"And I wasn't going to go and continue when there's probably about 30 to 40 metres of conveyor belt hanging off a tyre barrier in this situation."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Ricciardo "frustrated" by Albon's pace at Mugello
Next article Racing Point in fight to get upgrades ready for Russia
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Adam Cooper
RB: Tsunoda “mentally on a different level” in 2024
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
RB: Tsunoda “mentally on a different level” in 2024
Andretti planning F2 and F3 entries to promote US talent to F1 team
Formula 1
Formula 1
Andretti planning F2 and F3 entries to promote US talent to F1 team
Andretti F1 team formally opens new Silverstone facility
Formula 1
Formula 1
Andretti F1 team formally opens new Silverstone facility
Latest news
Ryan Blaney kind of faces a must-win scenario this weekend at Phoenix
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
3 min
Ryan Blaney kind of faces a must-win scenario this weekend at Phoenix
Catching Larson in the NASCAR Chase has to start at track where 'I suck'
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
1 h
Catching Larson in the NASCAR Chase has to start at track where 'I suck'
Verstappen charges from 24th to ninth as GetSpeed wins Portimao GTWC finale
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance
WCEE GT World Challenge Europe Endurance 1 h
Verstappen charges from 24th to ninth as GetSpeed wins Portimao GTWC finale
Colton Herta “maybe underestimated the difference” from IndyCar – F2 boss
FIA F2
F2 FIA F2 5 h
Colton Herta “maybe underestimated the difference” from IndyCar – F2 boss
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe