Know the new F1 2022 season race director list and salary after Australian Michael Masi is removed
Just three years after taking over as F1 race director from Charlie Whiting ensuing his untimely demise in 2019, Michael Masi has been asked to pack his bags and head for the exit door by F1.
F1 2022 Season Race Director List And Salary
The decision to relieve the Australian of his duties comes in the midst of the brouhaha which erupted in the aftermath of the Abu Dhabi GP 2021. Masi’s handling of the race and decision making was widely lambasted as he swung the race in Max Verstappen’s favour with many berating Masi for stripping Hamilton of what would have been a record title.
New President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has confirmed that Masi will no longer serve as the FIA Race Director with immediate effect with two set to take over the duties. Both Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas will be in charge of the role, taking over duties in alternating weekends.
Herbie Blash will be the permanent senior advisor for the two with the 73 year old Whiting’s long-term deputy race director. He will be making a return from semi-retirement after he had served as the deputy race director for 21 years, a role he first took up in 1995.
Eduardo Freitas has more than 20 years of experience as an FIA Race Director with him first taking the role in 2002 for the FIA’s GT Championship and the European Touring Car Championship. Wittich meanwhile was set to become the deputy race director under Masi in Formula 1 for 2022 but has now been elevated to the head honcho’s role itself.
Both the racing directors will be making $51,070 per year, the annual salary of a F1 race director.