Former Australian Formula 1 race director Michael Masi has claimed to have received death threats and insults following the 2021 world title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, in an interview published by Sydney's Daily Telegraph on Sunday.
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“
There were dark days.
I felt like the most hated man on the planet.
I received death threats from people who threatened to take care of me and my family
,” explains Masi, 44, who has just left the International Automobile Federation (FIA).
At the Abu Dhabi GP, decisive for the world title, several decisions by Masi allowed Max Verstappen to overtake Lewis Hamilton on the last lap, while the Mercedes driver was aiming for an 8th world crown synonymous with an absolute record in F1, ahead of the seven tracks by Michael Schumacher.
“
I still remember when I was walking the streets of London a day or two later.
I started looking over my shoulder and wondering if the people behind me were going to attack me
, ”also says the Australian.
“
I received hundreds of messages
,” reveals Masi.
“
They were shocking, racist, abusive, mean, people called me names.
And there were death threats.
And it continued, on my Facebook account and especially on LinkedIn, which is supposed to be a professional platform.
It was the same kind of insults
”.
"
I didn't go to see a specialist, but in hindsight I should have consulted
," says Masi, who was worried about his mental health but chose "
to play down the situation, including vis-à-vis the FIA
" .
Masi, hired by the FIA following the sudden death of Charlie Whiting in early 2019, left the FIA for good in July, after a long reflection, to return to live in Australia, "
close to the people who support me
", explains he.
Formula 1 launched on Saturday, on the sidelines of the Hungarian GP, a campaign to fight against discrimination and racist insults of all kinds, following numerous excesses of fans, in the stands and on social networks, during the GP of 'Austria.
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