‘I was the most hated man in the world’ – Axed F1 boss Masi reveals DEATH threats and abuse after title controversy

AXED F1 race director Michael Masi disclosed he experienced gained on the internet loss of life threats just after the controversy very last yr that price tag Lewis Hamilton an eighth entire world title.

The Australian altered the security car or truck re-start out course of action at the finish of the December’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Michael Masi has been relieved of his role as F1 race director

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Michael Masi has been relieved of his role as F1 race directorCredit history: GETTY
The decision saw Sir Lewis Hamilton pipped to a record-breaking eighth F1 title by Max Verstappen

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The conclusion observed Sir Lewis Hamilton pipped to a record-breaking eighth F1 title by Max VerstappenCredit: REUTERS

The controversial choice handed the crown to Pink Bull’s Max Verstappen, denying Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton a file eighth title in the procedure.

“There have been some dark days,” Masi instructed Australia’s News Corp on Sunday.

“And absolutely, I felt like I was the most hated gentleman in the globe. I received loss of life threats.

“Individuals indicating, they ended up going to appear soon after me and my spouse and children.”

His call allowed Crimson Bull’s Max Verstappen to take benefit of his new tyres to pip Mercedes legend Lewis Hamilton to glory on the past lap of the last race of the marketing campaign.

The Purple Bull ace, 24, passed the Mercedes driver in remarkable fashion at the demise to deny the British icon a record eighth Formula One globe title.

It prompted an investigation which identified Masi – in his then-position as race director – to have failed to observe the procedures.

It also resulted in the Aussie being axed as F1’s race director in February.

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A subsequent report into the Abu Dhabi race in March observed that Masi had built a “human mistake” but acted in “superior religion”.

Masi, who remaining governing human body the FIA in March, was the subject of a torrent of abuse on social media.

“They have been shocking,” Masi reported of messages he obtained on Fb. “Racist, abusive, vile, they referred to as me each individual name below the sunshine.

“And they held on coming. Not just on my Facebook but also on my LinkedIn, which is meant to be a experienced system for business enterprise. It was the exact type of abuse.”

The 44-yr-previous has considering that returned to Australia and did not search for specialist aid in the aftermath of the incident.

“I didn’t want to chat to anyone,” he reported.

“Not even household and pals. I only talked to my close household but very briefly.

“It did have a physical impact, but it was additional psychological. I just needed to be in a bubble. I experienced no need to converse to them. I just required to be by yourself, which was pretty difficult.

“The complete practical experience has created me a substantially stronger particular person,” he included.