Video of the FIA radio conversation between Michael Masi and Red Bull shows Masi negotiating with the team during the F1 Saudi Arabian GP 2021
While the inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix threw up scores of talking points with it going down as the most controversial race of 2021, one of the biggest takeaway was the radio conversation between the FIA and Red Bull.
As red flags were brought out as Charles Leclerc span Sergio Perez before Nikita Mazepin who was unable to veer clear of the crash slammed into the back of George Russell. During the accident, Verstappen went onto overtake Lewis Hamilton as stewards decided to bring things to a halt with the biggest question being on where Verstappen would start once the race commenced.
Video Emerges Of Michael Masi Offering Red Bull A Deal On The F1 FIA Team Radio
The FIA’s Michael Masi got on his race to Red Bull’s sporting director Jonathan Wheatley to discuss the entire matter. However, the conversation which was aired on the FIA radio has since gone viral with Masi seen offering Red Bull a deal where Verstappen would start behind Ocon and Hamilton.
While Red Bull eventually went onto accept the offer, the entire conversation has been pointed fingers at with ardent viewers of the race questioning Masi’s school of thought. Where the FIA bigwig should have just gone by the book, he was rather seen trying to offer Red Bull a way out by handing them the upper hand to decide where Verstappen restarted the race.
“I wouldn’t call it a deal as from a race director’s perspective I have no authority to instruct the teams to do anything in that situation.
“I can give them an offer, the ability to do that but the choice is theirs. The stewards are obviously empowered to give penalties but I can give them my perspective.
“That’s why I offered them the ability to give that position up,” Masi said after the race.
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