Verstappen stresses: "He didn't break the rules"

Max Verstappen is obviously still not in agreement with the dismissal of Michael Masi. In conversation with Sky Sports the Dutchman once again addresses the departure of the former race director.

Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton fought together for the world title last season. It not only created a lot of pressure for Red Bull Racing and Mercedes, but also the race management had to make very important decisions. Masi therefore received a lot of criticism for his choices in 2021.

Whereas the race management came under increasing pressure in the autumn, the decisions in Abu Dhabi caused the bomb to burst. After a crash by Nicholas Latifi, Masi brought a safety car onto the track, which he suddenly brought in one lap before the end. This gave Verstappen a chance to get past Hamilton, which he eventually did.

The decision can count on little sympathy especially from Mercedes, but from Verstappen it is different. The reigning world champion believes Masi has done nothing wrong. "He didn't break the rules," Verstappen stressed. "He perhaps applied the rules slightly differently in that circumstance but there was nothing he did that actually contravened the rules."