Andreas Seidl defended the FIA and Michael Masi, saying that they are doing a great job with the sport.
The FIA and Masi were the main villains of the season, having ruined the conclusion to it in shocking fashion. They cost Lewis Hamilton the championship through an absolutely bizarre call, and gifted the championship on a silver platter to Max Verstappen.
While Verstappen is a deserving champion, the rules would have seen Hamilton win the eighth championship. The result was slammed by fans and F1 personnel, who called for the FIA to undergo an overhaul and Masi to lose his job.
However, Seidl defended the FIA and Masi, saying that McLaren at least were happy with the job they were doing with the resources at hand.
“From our point of view, without commenting now on what happened (in Abu Dhabi), we appreciate the open and transparent dialogue we had all year, and also in previous years with Michael,” he said as quoted by Planet F1.
“And we were really happy also with the way he is dealing with things, not just with us but in general, with all the teams in the paddock.
“So I think we need to be very careful this intense battle for the championship, which was very intense on and off track, that triggered obviously a lot of heated comments as well, is not giving the wrong picture also of the reality.
“Again, from our point of view we are very happy with how Michael is dealing with us. He’s asking for our input, always has an open ear for improvements as well. That’s how I see it.”
Not the easiest job
“I think it’s also not fair to make comments like in the past everything was different and better,” the McLaren team principal continued.
“I think it is good now and it was good in the past.
“It is a very tricky job to be race director in such an intense battle we have seen this year. I think that is something you need to keep in mind.”
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