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Podcast: Masi on F1 2020, Whiting’s influence, let them race idea & more

09/07/2020

FIA’s Michael Masi featured on F1 Beyond The Grid podcast talking about his career, 2020 season, Charlie Whiting influence, let them race idea and more.

This week, it was the most senior race official of the FIA – Australian Masi – as the guest on F1 Beyond The Grid podcast in which he began by discussing what he and his organisation are doing ahead of this weekend’s Styrian GP in Austria, and the opportunities a double-header present.
On a more personal note, he joked that he was unable to even enjoy the thrilling F1 race this past weekend due to the chaos.
Masi also covered the mechanical issues faced by many, and what might have been a driving factor in these reliability issues that seemed non-existent in testing, before discussing all the work put in by himself and the FIA to get back to racing.
The Australian added that – of the 10,000 COVID-19 tests – none came back positive – a fact that he is proud of.
Discussing the race in Austria further, Masi talked about the Red Bull protest, and the decision made, before switching topics to succeeding Charlie Whiting, the influence he had on his career, his experiences with him, and the FIA that he inherited in F1 2019.
Then, on a solemn note, Masi discussed the weekend of the death of Whiting in-depth, and how the home advantage ultimately helped him adapt.
Additionally, he discussed his business between F1 races, when he does frequent track inspections and makes brings forward new policies, such as the reintroduction of the black and white flag – something he also covered extensively.
Masi told of how he came to the decision to reintroduce the flag, and how he feels the drivers interpret it in the right way, rather than as a ‘get out of jail free’ card.
Similarly, he also discussed the general shift to the ‘let them race’ attitude adopted of late, and how he – in tandem with the drivers – decided this was the best route, before discussing his relationship with the drivers specifically.
Masi also discussed his beginnings in motorsport, and how he first got involved in F1 – organising the Korean GP.
Then, he spoke on his relationship with Tim Schenken, before wrapping up with questions about his favorite driver, Gilles Villeneuve, favorite car, and favorite circuit, Spa or Monza.