Michael Masi was removed from his race director position and FIA announced Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas will share the role, know what will they do and their salary
After his role in the Abu Dhabi finale, when he only permitted the lapped cars between title contenders Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen to unlap themselves, Michael Masi is set to be replaced as F1 race director.
Niels Wittich And Eduardo Freitas New FIA F1 2022 Race Director, Role, Duties And Salary
Michael Masi will no longer be the race director for Formula One. Instead, Eduardo Freitas and Niels Wittich will share the responsibility, with Herbie Blash serving as a senior advisor. Their stint will begin with the pre-season Barcelona test on February 23-25.
Remote help from an off-site FIA facility will be provided to race control via a Virtual Race Control Room. This will aid the race director in making decisions. It will be connected to the F1 race director in real time and will assist in the application of sports laws.
Direct radio interactions between teams and the race director will face restrictions during track sessions and will not be aired on television, but teams will still be allowed to ask queries of the race director through a new non-intrusive approach.
The F1 sporting advisor group will also study and present to the next F1 commission the unlapping procedures behind a safety car during F1 races. Both Wittich and Freitas will be paid $52,000 per year as part of their salary as the director.
New F1 Race Management Team
Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas will alternate as race directors, taking over Masi’s responsibilities. A virtual race control as well as permanent advisor Herbie Blash will aid the duo in their work. The duo won’t have to deal with a torrent of messages from the team’s leadership.
Response to the Change
For a long time, it seemed inevitable that Masi would leave his position as F1 race director. But, astonishingly his position would rotate between two race directors.
Depending on which race director is in charge, this could lead to unpredictability from weekend to weekend. The rules as stated presently leave a lot of room for interpretation. Hence, the FIA will have to make sure Wittich and Freitas are on the same page.
Blash’s appointment as a permanent advisor is a good step, and Wittich and Freitas would be wise to heed to his decades of expertise.
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