Lewis Hamilton admits he will NOT speak to Michael Masi as ex-race director returns to F1 paddock
‘There’s nothing to say’: Lewis Hamilton will NOT speak to Michael Masi as the former race director returns to the F1 paddock for the first time since his controversial mishandling of the 2021 title final that cost the Brit a world championship
- Michael Masi made a controversial safety car call at the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP
- The decision led to Lewis Hamilton being passed by Max Verstappen on the final lap.
- Masi lost his role as Formula One race director soon after amid furious consequences.
Lewis Hamilton said he will not speak to Michael Masi, the sacked Formula One referee accused of costing him a record eighth world championship, because “there is nothing to say.”
Masi is back in an F1 paddock for the first time since his mishandling of the 2021 season decider in Abu Dhabi, which gave Max Verstappen the chance to beat Hamilton on the last lap and win the title.
The deeply controversial race cost Masi his job as F1 race director. He left the FIA last summer before moving to Australia and being appointed chairman of the V8 Supercar Commission.
The presence of Masi, 44, at this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix could bring back bad memories for Hamilton.
The 38-year-old has not won a race since losing to Verstappen in Abu Dhabi, and has already ruled himself out of this season’s championship battle with his Mercedes machine unable to compete against Verstappen’s superior Red Bull.
Lewis Hamilton insists he won’t speak to Michael Masi at the Australian Grand Prix this week
Hamilton arrived in Melbourne earlier this week with the aim of turning the season around for Mercedes.
But when asked if he plans to speak to Masi in Melbourne and seek an explanation for what happened in Abu Dhabi, Hamilton replied: “I don’t.” I’m just focused on my future.
“I am focused on trying to win again. There is nothing to say.’
The race at Albert Park marks the tenth anniversary of Hamilton’s debut with Mercedes.
Hamilton has won six of his seven titles with the Silver Arrows. However, he faces the prospect of another challenging year after finishing fifth in the first two rounds in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
Hamilton’s £40m per season contract expires at the close of the current campaign, and there are no signs of an extension on the horizon.
But Hamilton added: “I feel amazing about it. [his Mercedes future]. I still feel very much at home.
‘It’s my family, and I see myself being with Mercedes until my last days. If you look at the legends like Sir Stirling Moss, who was with Mercedes until the end of days, that’s been the dream for me, one day to have that.
I have some amazing allies on the team, some great relationships here, and as long as I can continue to help the team, drive it forward and really contribute, that’s why I want to stay.
‘If there’s ever a point where I feel like I’m not capable of doing that, it’s time for a young man to come in and take my seat. But I still feel pretty young and in pretty decent shape.
Michael Masi’s infamous safety car call cost Hamilton the 2021 title
Masi’s call led to Max Verstappen passing Hamilton on the final lap to snatch the 2021 title from him
Hamilton also hit back last week that a court in Brazil ordered three-time world champion Nelson Piquet to pay £780,000 for racist and homophobic comments he made about the British driver.
“I would like to thank the government of Brazil,” Hamilton said.
“It is quite amazing what they have done in holding someone accountable and showing people that racism and homophobia are not tolerated or acceptable and that there is no place for it in our society.
“I love that they’ve shown that they stand for something, and I wish more governments would.”