Why Toto Wolff's Outrage Against Michael Masi Is Misplaced

Four years after the controversial 2021 season finale, Toto Wolff continues to lash out at former Race Director Michael Masi, and completely without justification.

“There’s a lunatic who can basically destroy the record of the greatest champion of all time,” Toto Wolff recently stated in an interview with The Telegraph. The Mercedes team principal was referring to former Race Director Michael Masi, who came under fire during the 2021 season finale. The scenes are well-known: Nicholas Latifi crashed into the barrier on lap 53 of 58. The Safety Car was deployed, and Max Verstappen seized the opportunity to pit for fresh soft tires. Lewis Hamilton, however, was still on old, hard tires.

From that moment, it was clear: if the race were to restart, Hamilton, with his worn tires, would be defenseless against the Red Bull star. The lapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen also shouldn't have played a role. Since 2012, all relevant drivers are allowed to unlap themselves during a Safety Car period, provided safety and race time allow.

Masi's Back and Forth in the Final Minutes

However, the then-Race Director Masi initially, based on a hasty conclusion, did not allow this. Shortly thereafter, he reversed his decision, but by then, so much time had passed that he only let the drivers between Verstappen and Hamilton unlap themselves to enable any restart at all.

The Problem: This handling is not stipulated in the regulations and led to fierce discussions. Mercedes felt cheated out of the world championship title. Team principal Wolff frantically radioed Race Control: “No, Michael, that is so not right!” He later explained: “I haven’t experienced losing control of a situation since I was a child.”

Now, four years later, accusations have resurfaced – this time, even the term “lunatic” was used. This can be translated as “madman,” “crazy person,” or “insane,” but also as “mentally ill.” This shows that the wound is still deep. But did Masi really destroy the record of the greatest champion?

I say no! There was no scandal. A scandal would only have occurred if Masi had not waved through the lapped cars, as the regulations prescribe. Instead, he at least contained the damage and made a fair finale possible.

TV footage of the race clearly shows: already on lap 55 of 58, the recovery crane with the wreck had left the track, even before the drivers passed that point. Afterwards, the last debris was removed and smaller parts were swept away.

Unlapping Could Have Been Allowed Earlier

By the end of the 56th lap, shortly after the last marshal jumped over the track barrier after completing their work, but at the latest at the beginning of the 57th lap, all cars should have been allowed to unlap themselves. And since at that point, six of 20 cars had already retired, only 14 remained in the race.

The mere eight lapped drivers would have easily passed through to restore the correct order. Verstappen would have caught Hamilton regardless, and Masi would have acted according to the rules.

For me, the manipulation allegations surrounding the final minutes of the Abu Dhabi race remain incomprehensible. Even less understanding do I have for Toto Wolff's renewed reaction, who, four years after the finale, adds an insult against the former Race Director.

These statements are particularly regrettable after two of the sport's greatest delivered perhaps the best championship battle of all time. And Verstappen ultimately won it narrowly, but in a fair sporting manner.