Wolff Renews Outrage Over 'Lunatic' Masi and 2021 Abu Dhabi GP

Nearly four years later, Toto Wolff admits the memory of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix still continues to plague his sleep. The Mercedes F1 boss has again lashed out at former race director Michael Masi, branding the Australian a “lunatic” who “destroyed the record of the greatest champion of all time” – a clear reference to Lewis Hamilton’s lost shot at an unprecedented eighth world title.

Why it matters:

The 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix remains one of Formula 1's most controversial moments, fundamentally altering the championship outcome. Wolff's continued public outrage highlights the deep, lasting impact of that day's decisions on a prominent team principal, stirring ongoing debate about sporting integrity and the psychological toll of such high-stakes controversies on those involved.

The Details:

• The Incident: Lewis Hamilton dominated the 2021 season finale, on track to secure his eighth championship after a grueling battle with Max Verstappen. However, a late-race crash by Nicholas Latifi triggered a Safety Car.
• Masi's Call: Then-Race Director Michael Masi made the highly contentious decision to allow only certain lapped cars to un-lap themselves, placing Verstappen, on fresh tires, directly behind Hamilton for a final-lap showdown.
• The Outcome: Verstappen overtook Hamilton on the last lap, snatching the championship, a decision Wolff famously radioed as “Michael, this is so not right.” Masi's reply, “It’s called a motor race,” became iconic.
• Wolff's Current Stance: Speaking at an event for his wife Susie Wolff's new book, Toto Wolff reiterated his fury, stating, “There is one lunatic who can basically destroy the record of the greatest champion of all time.” He added that he hadn't experienced such a “loss of control of a situation” since childhood.
• Susie Wolff's Perspective: Susie Wolff, F1 Academy managing director, described her feeling at the time as “disbelief,” lamenting that “one person’s decision to interpret the rules, in a way that they had never been interpreted before, could have caused such an outcome.” She clarified that her anger was not directed at Max Verstappen, whom she acknowledged as a “deserving champion,” but rather at “the way it happened.”

The Big Picture:

The FIA conceded months later that “human error” played a role in the decisions made, yet the wounds for Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton clearly remain unhealed. This ongoing emotional fallout demonstrates how specific moments can define careers and cast long shadows over the sport's history, perpetually fueling discussions about fairness and race management integrity.

What's next:

While the trophies have been awarded and the F1 calendar has moved on, Wolff's continued vocal discontent ensures the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will not easily fade into history. His remarks serve as a persistent reminder of the profound impact a single decision can have on the highest levels of motorsport, indicating that for some, the narrative of that fateful race is far from concluded.