AXED F1 race director Michael Masi revealed he had received death threats online last year following the controversy that cost Lewis Hamilton an eighth world title.
The Australian changed the safety car restart procedure in late December Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
2
2
The controversial decision handed the crown to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, depriving Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton of a record eighth title in the process.
“There were some dark days,” Masi told Australia’s News Corp.
“And absolutely, I felt like I was the most hated man in the world. I got death threats.
“People said they would come after me and my family.”
His call allowed Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to take advantage of its new tires to pimp the Mercedes legend Lewis Hamilton to victory on the final lap of the campaign’s final race.
The Red Bull Ace, 24, dramatically passed the Mercedes driver at death to deny the British icon a record eighth world title in Formula 1.
It led to an investigation that showed that Masi – in his then role as race director – had not followed the rules.
It also resulted in the Aussie sacked as F1 race director in February.
FREE BET: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS
A subsequent report on the Abu Dhabi race in March found that Masi had made a “human error” but acted in good faith.
Masi, who? left the FIA’s governing body in March, was the subject of a torrent of abuse on social media.
“They were shocking,” Masi said of messages he received on Facebook. “Racist, abusive, mean, they called me every name under the sun.
“And they just kept coming. Not just on my Facebook, but also on my LinkedIn, which should be a professional platform for businesses. It was the same kind of abuse.”
The 44-year-old has since returned to Australia and has not sought professional help in the wake of the incident.
“I didn’t want to talk to anyone,” he said.
“Not even family and friends. I only talked to my immediate family, but very briefly.
“It did have a physical impact, but it was more mental. I just wanted to be in a bubble. I didn’t feel like talking to them. I just wanted to be alone, which was very challenging.
“The whole experience has made me a much stronger person,” he added.