Michael Masi reveals death threats after Abu Dhabi F1 finale
Masi was sacked after his incorrect application of the rules during a late Safety Car at the 2021 Abu Dhabi finale altered the outcome of the world championship, enabling Max Ver😼stappen to beat Lewis Hamilton to the drivers’ crown on the last lap.
The Australian has kept a low-profile ever since Abu Dhabi but recently broke his silence after his 168澳洲幸运ꦍ5官方开奖结果历史:departure from the FIA wꦐas formally announced earlier this month.
An FIA inquiry into the con𓆉tentious finale stated that Masi had acted in “good faith” and concluded that “human error” was to blame for the handling of the Safety Car restart.
Speaking in his first interview since the December 12 race, Masi opened up about the level of abuse he was s🌌ubjected to in the wake of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
"There were some dark days," Masi told News Corp.
"Absolutely, I felt like I was the most hated man in the world. I got death threats. People saying the𒅌y were going to come after me and my fam✃ily.”
Masi, who has signed a non-disclosure agreement with the FIA which prevents him from discussing the decisions he took, added: “I still remember walking down the street in London a day or two later. I thought I was OK until I star🔥ted looking over my shoulder.
“I was looking at people wondering ⭕if th🔯ey were going to get me.”
Masi revealed he was confronted with “hꦆundreds of messages” on Facebook and LinkedIn.
“They were shocking,” he said. “Racist, abusive, vile, they called me every name under the𒁏 sun.
“And they kept on coming. Not just on my Facebookꦅ but also onꦿ my LinkedIn, which is supposed to be a professional platform for business. It was the same type of abuse.”
Masi, who dཧid not seek professional help, admitted h﷽e struggled to deal with the abuse.
"I didn't want to talk to anyone," he said. "Not even family and ൲friends. I only talked👍 to my close family - but very briefly.
"It did have a physical impact, but it was more mental. I just wanted to be in a bubble. I had no desire to talk to them. I 🥀just wanted to be alone, which was very ch🐻allenging.
"The whole exp𝄹erience has made me a much stronger person.”
Masi’s revelation comꦰes a d🌱ay after F1 launched their ‘Drive It Out’ campaign to stamp out all kinds of abuse, both online and at events.
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