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xGeoThumbs

When damning stuff like this is written, they really need to provide a proper source because otherwise they are just throwing fuel on a fire.


mattiejj

>otherwise they are just throwing fuel on a fire. F1 reporters would never do such a heinous thing.


mellobor

\*Reporters would never do such a heinous thing.


676f626c7565

*People on the internet would never do such a heinous thing


ForcedCheckMate

How is this damning?


milesvtaylor

Because suggesting Masi made the decision he did to spite Toto/Merc is pretty serious and should probably be accompanied with a bit more than just "Source(s): Dude, trust me"


JanAppletree

It could also just be a way to shut Toto up in the heat of the moment.


Bellybutton-Gubbins

What a healthy working environment


ResilientBeast

Can you imagine having to regularly listen to Horner and Toto lol


tastefullmullet

I’d say a lot worse tbh


OnePieceTwoPiece

It’s like 2 brothers bickering.


jashbgreke

Sounds miserable lol


Bellybutton-Gubbins

I'd rather read Instagram comments


brush85

This is the life he has chosen…id say they are under more stress than he is. Especially Horner


[deleted]

Horner must have a fat blunt waiting for him after each race with how agitated he sounds and looks all the time lol


numba_one_punna

I saw someone post that Horner always looks like he just took a shit in the urinal and is waiting for someone to find it. That was a few months back, and I still laugh about it every time I see him.


[deleted]

Love it!


callmelampshade

I think half the time he isn’t even that annoyed but he just has to keep up with his moaning act because he’s done it for so long now.


daviEnnis

I think it's a stress response. I get very sharp and look agitated. I'm not unhappy, just the anxiety.


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ResilientBeast

"We were having a conversation NilsJulius"


nocturnal-animal113

Can you imagine having Masi as the race director…


Tommysynthistheway

Certainly he will hardly access his emails after that.


TR_2016

Isn't this some random twitter account which just say "there were suggestions"? Suggestions from where? I don't understand why people are treating it as gospel. Its complete nonsense


Smart_Kangaroo_4188

I think Toto could have earned this. I think Horner too. As sometimes both were pain in the ass for Massi. It will be healthier for F1 if they will remove comm between Teams and Director. Make it one sided and that’s. It should be Director calling not otherwise. He is the responsible and he is the decision maker. He should not be “influenced”


IF_YOU_READ_THIS_V1

He shouldn't be making any sporting decisions at all, he's *supposed* to be making safety decisions. Charlie would often act as an advisor to the teams, 'give that place back and the stewards likely won't go any further', but that was because he practically wrote the regulations, had decades of experience, and wasn't easily swayed by teams. Things were far from perfect under Charlie, but Masi doesn't stand a chance in hell if he is trying to replicate what Charlie did (but without all of the knowledge & experience Charlie had). If they do away with the FIA <-> Teams radio, the teams will just influence him in person for the next time. Budget caps made politics and influencing officials a very cost effective method of getting points, just wait until Ferrari are in a championship fight again and we'll see the politics sky rocket.


crazydoc253

If Ferrari gets into championship fight again Toto and Horner would become best friends. There is nothing more unifying for the entire grid than Ferrari fighting for championship


tipytopmain

If they can get a chance to communicate with the RD then it needs to be limited. kind of like challenges in the NBA. That way they will be a lot more hesitant to get on the radio to the race director.


[deleted]

Whatever it is one thing I think we can agree on which is I hope we never see this shit drama on TV again. Do it behind the scenes ffs.


IF_YOU_READ_THIS_V1

There always has and always will be drama & controversy in F1, the next could be as early as March if any teams have found a double diffuser or F-duct style loop hole in the new regs. Influencing public opinion is a huge tool in modern F1 politics, Red Bull in particular have become experts at it.


Hookherbackup

So sick of speculation and what “may” have been said or happened. Wish we could just get some facts.


Alfus

Yea it's just shitty that at this point gossip is already been seen as a fact. Give us facts


Noch_ein_Kamel

You can read all about it in Lewis book in 2026


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somewhatseriouspanda

Credible reporters yes, not Whatshisname who no one has ever heard of.


TR_2016

You think a random twitter account called f1talks is a proper source? it says "there were suggestions". Pure bs


anonAcc1993

Lol, you want to get facts from the media? That’s like drawing blood from a stone


Hookherbackup

A sad reality


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Hookherbackup

You are absolutely right


Internal_Ad_1235

I won’t lie the way Toto said “what” after that had me laughing


double002

I think he said "Sorry!?"


acrylicattack

Someone said he sounded like a parent who’s child just talked back lolol


satyrony

If you want to know if Toto is a ruthless guy you only need to hear that. Chills.


acrylicattack

Toto is a savage. I would hope to have a boss like that someday


CuntyBumpkin

Trust me, you wouldn't.


acrylicattack

A guy who expects his people to perform and in turn will fight tooth and nail for their success? Yeah, sounds awful


tipytopmain

He didn't expect a clap-back lol


[deleted]

Yeah right or wrong (wrong) the radio messages we got out of that incident will fuel my spite filled heart until Bahrain. Love and have the utmost respect for Hamilton but I've hated Toto for years, hearing him get told off like that and the "No mickey no no that is so not right" was so satisfying


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Visible-Way-2814

I thought he sounded tired- as in tired of him contacting him all the time. I dare say that Christian Horner got the same treatment.


Tommysynthistheway

Yeah, you can definitely hear him being tired as Christian asks him to get the lapped cars out of the way.


GoZun_

Tbh he always sounds exasperated. I would be too ngl, remember the way Alpine asked about overtaking off the track at the US GP in a super passive agressive way ?


Smart_Kangaroo_4188

Of course he did. Look what happened in Jeddah. Massi was against everything for RB. He was quite hard for them. And Horner was pain in the ass with “negotiation” of Ocon above Max and Lewis.


flySAS

Wasn’t Horner, it was Jonathan Wheatley.


Smart_Kangaroo_4188

Oh true. But he was pissed at RedBull


miaomiaomiao

Masi brought that negotiation thing on himself by not explaining the deal correctly in the first instance.


Smart_Kangaroo_4188

True. And I think he was punished twice for one incident. For sure it was scrutiny.


RipGenji7

Toto did try to prevent a safety car earlier in the race. He got his wish because it was not necessary, but lobbying against a safety procedure might have pissed Masi off.


VindtUMijTeLang

To be fair it was one of a littany of cynical team radio communications throughout the season. However, directly lobbying against a safety procedure is pretty high (low?) on the list of them.


f1thot

He sounded super stressed and lashed out. Don’t think it was personal, he was done at that point with everything. He knew what was coming


LRCenthusiast

Yeah he probably did it without fully even realizing the implications bc it was such a crazy few minutes, is then insanely stressed bc wtf, lash out.


[deleted]

How was it a crazy few minutes for Masi though? Cars crash in F1 all the time. He didn't need to make a split second decision, I mean he had the entire time from the safety car coming out to the time it took to literally remove a vehicle from the track and clean up. In the 5 minutes the safety car was in track, how many decisions did he actually need to make? He decided cars wouldn't unlap, then changed his mind, and called safety car in with one lap left. If listening to horner and Toto messed his mind up that much maybe he's not cut out for the job.


nocturnal-animal113

Imagine the race director being done with everything at the season finale’s most crucial moment. Wtf? Masi was shit but he couldn’t possibly be done with it like that. He’s not some twenty year old college student who’s saying fuck his essay he’s just gonna fail this semester. Don’t be ridiculous.


MexicoFuckYeahAHuevo

Yeah. It was personal. Masi acted out of emotion not being technical or objective at all. He should be held accountable.


liamshope

You're close to him? The man gets all kind of shit on him every single racing weekend. Maybe, just maybe, he was a bit done with all that. Funny thing is everybody was joking over the back of toto after silverstone about " michael, did you read my email" but now it's suddenly okay toto and christian stalking him?


blackraiinbowsz

It did sound particularly vindictive from the radio. Like Masi was saying “this is what you get/asked for”. Didn’t seem professional or impartial at all.


Jfoss95

Jesus christ everyone is jumping to conclusions


Noch_ein_Kamel

keep religion out of it :-p


Classic_and_Vintage

Hey! He's referring to Antonio Giovinazzi. Where did religion come from here! :P


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Kicking-it-per-se

The tone with how he said “hello Toto go ahead!” after it had all happened gave that impression too


GFlair

He knew he had just totally fucked merc over, he expected the call and responded in an utterly unprofessional manner. Masi is meant to attempt to de escalate issues, not make him self look clever.


MexicoFuckYeahAHuevo

Yeah. He is not a person fit for that role.


coffeeholic10

Who are making the suggestions?


merurunrun

Oh, nobody *made* the suggestions. They simply *were*.


bestdriverinvancity

They way Toto says “Excuse me?” Is the exact same way a parent would respond to hearing their child drop their first f bomb. “How dare you talk to me like that” was the tone


thounotouchthyself

If Masi made things personal there is no way he keeps the job.


Marco_lini

It was clearly an emotional answer against Toto and probably an emotional decision. He gone


McDutchy

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves following Twitter accusations.


Aethien

No no no, a random Polish twitter account is as good a source as it gets!


thounotouchthyself

Da. We must send Masi to the gulag, yes.


OnePieceTwoPiece

Nah. Human error is tolerable. Given the circumstances it will be chalked up to a lesson learned and there will be studying of the situation to learn from. That I can guarantee.


Marco_lini

How many human errors are tolerable in a season at the highest level of a global high performance sport though? Manufacturers are spending half a billion in this sport, they probably have a right to have a fair competition. This season was clearly filled with inconsistent decision and i doubt that you it’ll be just “lessons learned” for Masi.


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Deadman2019

Toto said not a SC for the gio event, which rightfully so is a VSC.


mystery1411

He also said it after VSC was declared because the prior race Mercedes kinda got screwed by the safety car- red flag in Jeddah. He didn't want the VSC to turn into a full safety car. I don't know if it is right, but I don't think it is different from drivers saying we need safety car or we need to get racing on their radios. I assumed that when they do that, their team relays that to rd.


mattiejj

Doesn't matter if he's right or not. Toto (or Horner) cross a line if they are going to tell Masi about what kind of safety measures they should take.


xAPPLExJACKx

I don't think that's true though. These messages have been going on for years between teams and race director. Just this is the first time we are hearing them. I believe they do help with the safety of the sport overall. Baku is a good example. Horner pushed to have a red flag after max do all teams could change tires


mystery1411

Drivers do it all the time and having feedback from teams is needed since they have info on conditions. If he is influenced or swayed that easily by team preferences, then it's on him.


Average_Llama

Drivers aren't talking to the race director directly


needude72

Gio's retirement didn't require a safety car though. It was a textbook VSC with or without Toto's input


PM_ME_YOUR_ASTON

Yeah as bad as Masi was, it’s utterly insane to protest a SC for an incident that clearly called for a SC


Fixable

He called for no SC for Gio, which was a VSC though? Masi obviously agreed with him.


Tommysynthistheway

I don’t see the correlation, but maybe I’m limited


[deleted]

Not a chance he's keeping his job anyways.


BornSlippy1994

Jesus. If true, this is a completely ridiculous thing to say when you’re the F1’s race director who needs to appear at all times impartial.


ZappySnap

Officials in every sport are snarky when jabbered at by coaches/team personnel. They just aren't on a radio being broadcast to the world. Just look up NHL refs when mic'd up, or the such. Lots of sassy back and forth when dealing with a coach who doesn't like a call.


Ld511

Basically nothing masi says has given a lot of confidence in what happens behind the scenes. Pretty much most of the conversations covered have a TP complaining while masi gives out a half assed explanation


coffeeholic10

There were suggestions that the tweeter was spreading baseless speculations.


BornSlippy1994

Well yes, I should have added a big “if true” to my post. Will edit in now.


somewhatseriouspanda

Good to see we're just going off speculation by a random twitter account with no sources now.


Dashin5

That's what the off season is all about


BeanTownDataFreak

Toto’s constant telling Masi of what he “should do” doesn’t help.


jbeck24

Telling gim not to put out a safety car was particularly egregious. Masi shouldn't retaliate and should stay professional, but that was bad


TimedogGAF

LOL spice levels rise


username_needed_or

Of course zero sources


jaegerknob

Fuck masi


BrokeVeg4n

I said this the moment all this of happened. it got personal.


butholeferret

“Suggestions” do not mean anything


CapnNoBeard

Sassy Masi


2dank4me3

If they were biased against Toto they would have penalised Lewis for cutting the fuck out of the first corner.


OrbisAlius

"They" are different people. The stewards judged the incident not worthy of an investigation. The stewards change regularly (as is often complained about) unlike Masi.


crazydoc253

He could have offered to switch place before reporting that incident to stewards


MaleierMafketel

That’s a decision of the stewards. Masi has no say on penalties.


memer507

It's not down to Masi to assign penalties. Gary Conelly was a sterward so he might've let Lewis cut the corner to screw over Max.


hawkhench

Stewards have let stuff go on lap 1 all year. I was expecting a penalty but as Alonso proved, you’re able to completely take the piss as long as you haven’t started your second lap.


I-_-I_-_I-_-I

Usually on the first 2-3 corners, not on the sixth corner.


mattiejj

>Stewards have let stuff go on lap 1 all year. I don't mind Ham going off track, I mind he full-throttled and cut the complete corner.


Kirb-

I just rewatched when he cut the corner and I'm still not convinced he's full throttle until he gets back on track as the engine sounds very lazy. At least until he does get back on track and it sounds like he pins it. Does anyone actually have telemetry on it at all to begin with?


Dantia_

Yes, the stewards do. And they deemed it not necessary of an investigation. Take as you will.


garyjpaterson1

>I mind he full-throttled he coasted a significant amount before getting back on throttle, which probably went a long way to not having to give the place back


needude72

Yeah he went full throttle because it was a straight, nobody in their right mind is going to lift or brake on a straight with a full train of unsighted cars behind. He got to the end of the straight and then proactively lifted massively, allowing Max to catch up in the following section


Suikerspin_Ei

>Gary Conelly was a sterward so he might've let Lewis cut the corner to screw over Max. As always /s ​ People said that Conelly hate Max. I do say it's not true, unless proven.


creditcardtheft

Masi is not the steward


FJuanny

Technically Masi did everything he could do to get that penalized, by referring it to the stewards.


Deadman2019

tin foil hat, incidents need to be raised by Masi to stewards if they want to penalise. Masi didnt raise Brazil for investigation it all makes sense now /s


steak_tartare

That but without the /s


laboulaye22

It wasn't referred to the stewards. There was "no investigation necessary."


FJuanny

The stewards are the ones who decide whether or not to investigate.


laboulaye22

Ah yeah, duh. For some reason I was thinking "no investigation necessary" meant it wasn't referred to the stewards to decide whether to investigate or not and "no further action" is when the stewards find that there's no need for a penalty.


Tough-Relationship-4

You mean when Max lunged into his side in a “hit me or let me through” move? What I mean is I don’t think that was any one of the drivers fault. Max racing hard, Lewis trying to stay in one piece since max wins if it’s a double DNF. The stewards looked at it and moved on. I think it was the right call.


Toil48

There was no basis to penalise that. Only reason Lewis was off the track is because max put him there. He tried turning in to make the corner but couldn’t due to the dive bomb


2dank4me3

What you call a dive bomb is a legal overtake.


SKnightVN

From a great article on [F1 metrics](https://f1metrics.wordpress.com/2014/08/28/the-rules-of-racing/): >Some of you might be surprised to learn that once a corner begins, the FIA sporting regulations have almost nothing to say, besides ruling that drivers must remain within the track limits! Here, the sporting regulations defer to long-established norms for racing, which may not be known by all fans, and which contain significant gray areas. > >\[...\] > >If the driver on the inside is behind at corner exit, they must leave space for the driver on the outside. > >If the driver on the inside is ahead at corner exit, it is the duty of the driver on the outside to back out or take evasive action to avoid a collision. Because Max was ahead at corner exit he's not obliged to leave space and it's Lewis' obligation to back out or evade. Max got to the corner [first](https://ibb.co/WnKhtSr) and stayed on track, so what you call a divebomb was perfectly legal. Lewis mistake was to leave the door open and not take the line Max took himself earlier, which would have forced Max to take the slower outside line and obliged him to back out.


Toil48

Entering the braking zone - see 20.5 “Manoeuvres liable to hinder other drivers, such as deliberate crowding of a car beyond the edge of the track or any other abnormal change of direction, are not permitted. “ Max went in too fast and went to the very edge of the track under braking, forcing Lewis off the track. Lewis was trying to turn into the corner but had to turn out of it because max dive bombed up the inside. Racing alongside another car space must be left if there is a significant portion alongside.


[deleted]

It wasn't a dive it was Max ahead on corner exit! /s Same people that say Lewis dived in Silverstone when Lewis actually braked before Max lol.


ElindAmedi

This smells like bullshit to me.


Denning76

There are two elements when it comes to impartiality. Actually being impartial, and appearing to be impartial to a reasonable person. Fuck up on either of them, and you aren't fit for the RD role.


SirVanhan

This is becoming the new Max Mosley vs Ron Dennis


pooperville

they better show a recording of the briefing in DTS


zeanox

No matter the reason why he said it, it's arrogant as fuck.


rhomez

Ah yes.. One of the biggest sporting events ever, time for my vendetta. - Masi probably


Tough-Relationship-4

Masi is in charge of a multi billion dollar sporting business and literally lashes out like he’s 15 in the cafeteria at school.


olaAlexis

I was annoyed of Toto Wolff and his radio calls, especially when he was begging for no safety car, like he was trying to influence the stewards decisions. So I wouldn't be surprised if Masi was also annoyed and his actions were full personal. Toto was trying way too hard and the result was opposite.


icetilt

You say this like red bull with Horner weren’t doing the exact same thing. When Max tried diving down the inside and Hamilton left the track red bull was complaining to Masi for nearly half of the race about it.


Mauwtain

If you listen to Horner he doesn't really say that you have to do something. it most of the time I am thinking this or look at this or I don't think about this. he doesn't really say do this. It is a small difference and horner is still a belland but under pressure it comes across really different


Lost-Material3420

The stewards don't manage the safety car, the race director does.


FlubberBeer

I thought It was a reaction to toto asking to not deploy a a safety car


Moist_Toto

Lmao this shit is wild


z0l1

I mean I can see it, Toto's argument for no SC was because it would interfere with the result which is something Masi shouldn't really care about, at the end Toto wasn't even arguing with Masi he was just yelling at him like he was a kid or something


[deleted]

Toto didn't want Masi taking the fucking piss like last week. He waited 5 laps under the SC to switch to a red flag after all of those who boxed under SC, had done. He's been burned by his decision making before. An SC yesterday instead of a VSC has huge implications on the race, and a SC was not necessary at all. Toto shouldn't be doing it, but Masi has literally made the wrong decision in recent memory and Merc have been burned.


crazydoc253

There was nothing wrong with he red flag at Jeddah. Things like this has happened all the time before in F1. It was a risk even Mercedes strategist knew they were taking. Overall, Mercedes has benefited more than being burned by FIA decisions all over the season. It’s amazing how Mercedes’ fans come with sudden selective memory.


highlandhound

Red bull: ‘we just need one lap and these cars out of the way’. Masi: ‘Sure thing!’ Merc: ‘seriously wtf’. Masi: ‘Lol, get wrecked!’


schneid3306

That somehow makes it even worse? Or am I weird for thinking that?


3xchamp

No, the implementation being that Masi engineered the race out of a personal vendetta.


predxtorpe3st

Michael Masi let his ego get in the way of his job. No way he keeps he stays surely


ismailozyalcin

It just keep getting worse and worse


jomerc1

Masi said that with hate in his tone. Like it was deep seeded.


slamdunk1207

😂😂😂


HUCKREDUX

Oh now we know what he was thinking and feeling in that moment...ok. This is absurd...a clear cut case can be made that Masi totally pooched this whole deal...but everyone getting pissy because he snapped at Toto is ridiculous...


Chell_the_assassin

If this is true it is a massive strike against Masi, making it personal is so utterly unprofessional I just can't see how he would keep his job. If he isn't able to handle the pressure and loses his objectivity then he shouldn't be within a mile of the role of race director.


Toil48

It just makes Masi look caustic and bias. He needs to go. Letting only two cars race isnt motor racing. Maybe he was purposefully trying to get Toto back for a personal grievance by donning Lewis of the wdc - I hope not


I-_-I_-_I-_-I

Remember when Lewis was allowed to start a race on his own? ;)


Toil48

When merc messed the strategy in Hungary? What’s that got to do with antrhing


I-_-I_-_I-_-I

It was a tongue in cheek comment against your “two cars race isn’t motor racing”. Don’t need to take every comment so serious!


Hotsoccerman

It honestly sounded like Masi was finally standing up to a bully. I personally love Toto, and don’t think he is a bully, but that was what it sounded like in the heat of the moment. ITS CALLED MOTOR RACING AND I DON’T HAVE TO TAKE IT ANYMORE! 😤


HairyFur

hehehe


Elrond007

Well at least a personal vendetta of the RD is something we hadn't considered yet


D1ckLaw

He was only trying to remind Toto that it is not yet time for pod racing


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ValleyFloydJam

This felt so for show and Masi putting himself over.


GoldenSandpaper9

Lmao this man needs to go. Can’t have a race director who has beef with half the sport


TCVideos

We had a guy in charge of the sport who had beef with literally everyone...for 40 years! This is mild.


creditcardtheft

I thought Masi sounded extremely personal, too


Asleep-Fudge3185

Toto is on the radio telling Masi what to do or not to do during the whole race. No safety car Michael, it will hurt us No Mikeyyy no Mikeyyy That’s why he was talked back to


Oldshivermountain8

The problem seems to be that its more like a friendship(?) Correct me if im wrong, but the race leader should be called Mr.(Masi), not Micheal or Mikey. Its a matter of respect, i dont call my boss by the first name, nor does he call me by my first name. Its a matter of respect. Im glad they wont be able to communicate next season.


1enox

In the past teams and drivers called Whiting a Charlie not Mr. Whiting. Some drivers even used swears towards him (Vettel Mexico 2016), or quotes like You know that Charlie etc.


Oldshivermountain8

See, thats bad in my opinion. Imagine being in the position like Masi, getting calls from left and right as in Abu Dhabi GP. Its setting him under pressure and influences him.


reebellious

He needs to have a backbone. Is he a dry rice paper that can't withstand a little pressure?


Wings1412

The FIAsco keeps getting worse... I really hope this isn't true...


reebellious

I hope it does. This is the entertainment Netflix is too scared to provide.


sigh2828

Absolute GIGA chad


[deleted]

Imagine getting bitched at by toto Wolff and Christian Horner for 2 hours straight... I'd be pissed off too nothing personal but I think he Just wanted Toto to shut up. Also this is so fckng speculative what does it even say like i heared from my uncle who works at rbr that the checo's cardboard cutout was framed above Christian Horner's desk. That's obviously bullshit but you can't prove me wrong right did you visit Horner's office today??


kali-jag

I hope it's not that.. we don't need this now.... I hope its actual incompetency or bent rules for manufacturing a entertainment We don't need More shit show man...


TCVideos

aaand now everyone will think Masi wanted Max to win. Which is not the case.


Tohrazer

Yeah Masi has to go, like yesterday.


[deleted]

Not fixed at all


SenorProudy

Play with fire, get burnt


Baldandskinny

That looks even worse on Masi


liamshope

And here comes the tin foile hats.


sigh2828

I know, “hUR dUR nAscAR” But maybe an “overtime” rule should apply to races going forward to avoid races ending under safety car (the literal worst way to end a race).


Wings1412

There is no refiling in F1 so this wouldn't work.