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Formula 1 Austrian GP
Verstappen verdict was not for F1's benefit - Masi
External pressure and the ‘greater good’ of Formula 1 did not influence the decision not to punish Max Verstappen in the Austrian Grand Prix, says FIA race director Michael Masi.
Scott Mitchell
Edited: Jul 2, 2019, 1:01 PM
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On Sunday evening a long post-race investigation was held into Verstappen’s wheel-to-wheel contact while passing Charles Leclerc for the lead.
The outcome was positioned as an important one for F1, which has received major scrutiny and criticism for stewards' decisions on the most significant battles in the previous two grands prix.
Asked by Motorsport.com if it was fair to assume the so-called ‘greater good’ of F1 played no part in the decision, Masi suggested that the primary role of the FIA in encouraging better racing is to set the rules and interpret them where possible, not turn a blind eye.
“F1, the FIA, teams and the drivers are very much all partners in making sure this is a success, and as strong as possible,” said Masi.
“But at the end of the day, from a regulatory side we’ve got a rulebook and a set of rules to apply.
“There’s various other process and discussions to go through if they [the rules] change, and when they change, and how they change. But that’s part of our role in ensuring those rules are applied.”
Masi took on the FIA F1 race director role following the shock death of Charlie Whiting on the eve of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
Though stewards decisions like Sebastian Vettel’s five-second time penalty in Canada have been controversial, Masi said the FIA is trying to avoid bogging F1 down with pedantic punishments when possible.
He said: “Even with incidents and bits and pieces in practice, we’re very much trying to do our best that silly, menial things – as much as they are – that maybe two or three years ago would have earned a penalty, these days don’t have an impact or as much of an impact.
“I hate people going back a number of years because the rulebook’s evolved, the manner in which they’ve been interpreted has evolved with everyone being involved in that discussion.
“When we start talking about precedent and incidents occurring three years ago, what may have been a breach then because of the way it’s been interpreted has evolved and may have become lessened in some ways. It’s a balancing act.”
Masi said the pressure has not increased or affected officials in the wake of the outcry over Vettel’s penalty in Montreal.
“The pressure’s always there on all of us,” he said. “From the stewards end they sit there and consider everything on its merit.
“I don’t personally feel there’s any added pressure as a result of Canada or any other incident that’s occurred.
“They are all esteemed ladies and gentlemen in fields of their own, they are all experienced stewards, and that’s part of the role of being an umpire at the end of the day.”
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