Masi and Mercedes aren't going to talk: 'Very unpleasant part of the past'

Michael Masi' s presence in the Formula 1 paddock this weekend has caused quite a stir. The former F1 race director is present as a representative of the Australian Supercar Commission. At least from Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, Masi need not expect a warm welcome.

After the 2021 season finale, Michael Masi was shown the door by the FIA. The Australian was charged with making mistakes at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, in which Max Verstappen claimed his first world title. Mercedes labelled Masi guilty of robbing Lewis Hamilton.

In the Formula 1 paddock this weekend, Masi greets teams and drivers again with all the joy, something he himself describes as seeing family again. Mercedes, however, gets a slightly cooler greeting. " The choice is theirs," Masi explains to Reuters. "I've always had an open door policy and will always have an open door policy, since the moment that I arrived in this F1 paddock and that continues." Masi stated after the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that he received several death threats.

Hamilton had previously indicated he had no desire to engage in talks with Masi, and his team boss now joins in. "No, I'm not going to meet with him. It is something from the past, a very unpleasant period," Wolff said.

Is a return of Masi imminent?

Masi showing his face again may not just be because he happened to be in the area. Sky Sports reporter Ted Kravitz says rumours are circulating in the paddock.

"What's he doing in Australia? He is in charge of SuperCars, the Australian touring cars. But what is he doing coming back into the Formula 1 paddock? There is some rumour that F1 want him back because Niels Wittich [Masi's replacement, red.] needs help on the FIA race direction side. But that's not going to happen."