Will Masi ever return as race director? Craig Slater doesn't rule it out

On Thursday, the FIA announced the fate of Michael Masi. The Australian will lose his position as race director and will take on another role within the FIA. Craig Slater has suggested that Masi may one day return as the Formula 1 race director.

Thanks to Masi's decisions, Max Verstappen had the chance to overtake Lewis Hamilton for the World Championship victory in the closing stages of the race in Abu Dhabi. An investigation by the FIA followed, from which it was concluded that changes need to take place in both the tasks of the race committee and certain procedures during the races. Nevertheless, Slater did not rule out the possibility that we will see Masi back in the future, as he is still relatively young.

"At the age of 44, you would say that if he has a continued presence within the FIA, might it not be impossible for him at some later point to maybe assume something similar to the role of race director again," Slater said on Sky Sports after the news was announced.

Wittich and Freitas

For the time being, at least, we will not see Masi back with the race directors, as his role will be taken over by Eduardo Freitas and Niels Wittich, who were race directors in the WEC and DTM respectively.

"In the short term, we will have new race directors alternating in the position and the FIA have also promised clearer, more predictable rules in terms of how the Safety Car operates, particularly at the end of grands prix," Slater ends.