Daniel Ricciardo has expressed his support for race director Michael Masi. Masi's position is currently under pressure due to the controversy that followed the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but Ricciardo believes that moment is no reason to replace him as race director.
The former teammate of Max Verstappen believes that it is up to Masi himself whether he wants to stay or not, stating that that decision should not be made as a result of a single moment. "If Michael wants to stay then he should stay," Ricciardo said to The Race before the start of McLaren's car launch.
Ricciardo stands up for Masi
"I don’t think one event should be the picture of everything," the Australian continued. He understands that not everyone appreciates the moment, but underlines that fans of the sport will still be fans of the sport.
Moreover, Ricciardo believes that too much pressure is placed on the race officials. He stresses that the officials have never had to deal with such a huge interest from the media and the public. According to the McLaren driver, the key is for everyone to step back. "We’re all assigned roles, that person’s there for a reason, let them do it," Ricciardo said.