Michael Masi gets fired/replaced?

We don't know if Mercedes will strike gold again, or whether Russell won't be paid to be number 2 at the team. Mercedes may very well build a great car, but hopefully Ferrari, Aston Martin, McLaren, or Red Bull can at least keep them honest. Obviously, my hope is Ferrari, but I won't hold my breath.

Think about the years Hamilton had rivals or a title fight in equal cars.

07 - Lost to Kimi and tied with Alonso.
08 - Won by a single point over Massa, despite Hungary and Singapore for the latter.
10 - Lost to Vettel (ok, RBR were super fast, but Alonso beat Hamilton, too)
16 - Beaten by Rosberg.
21 - Beaten by Verstappen, even with his absurd advantage with 4 races left, and Silverstone-Hungary-Baku happening to Max

That's the thing about Hamilton's dominance. It was comprised of only having to beat Rosberg two out of 3 years before the latter retired, Vettel and Leclerc being in uncompetitive Ferrari's that were nowhere near good enough, and then just beating Bottas who's paid to lose to him. Then, it came to an end when Honda give RBR and Verstappen a boost in power enough to compete with Mercedes.

This is the start of an era Hamilton will in theory have a competitive teammate and/or other teams that can compete with Mercedes.

Maybe he'll prove himself and I'll eat my words. I'm man enough t do it.

 

Somehow I doubt that ....

What would he have to do to 'prove himself' to you? People are just SO self-important these days ;-)

 

Let me make this clear.

I have no problem conceding Mercedes have built a far better mouse trap under the rules, and that it was other teams stupidity for agreeing to all the restriction that made it near impossible to catch up to their developmental edge. Props to the Mercedes constructor. They dominated the sport even greater than the Brawn-Schumi era, and I recognize them for that.

What I do have a problem with is the notion Hamilton's dominance is the same as Mercedes, and that the driver ever made the difference. I call ******** on that idea. It's like claiming Audi wouldn't have dominated the 24 Hours Of Le mans and sports cars in the 2000's without Tom Kristensen and Frank Biela behind the wheel of their prototypes. Like, really?

If Hamilton had won titles with Vettel, Alonso, Riccardo, Verstappen, or Leclerc as a teammate, or if Rosberg had stayed for the 4 titles Ham won between 17' and 20', I'd be way more impressed.

 

If there's a constructor that takes the fight to Mercedes or Russell is allowed to fight Hamilton, and he still wins the title, I'll be impressed.

 

Yap, he took a few lessons from Mansell on acting like a victim, thing is, despite all his fans (and they are many), i feel he's not loved (even in England) as Nigel was. I think the british fans loved Nigel, all of them, heck, even i liked him, he was spectacular to watch and a great driver, even if as a person he was a bit of a let down (but at the time that wasn't so clear to me), i also felt that same support for Damon, even if they knew he wasn't as good as his adversary, while elton i feel is adored by many, but there are also many british fans that just can't stand him. There is also something about elton fans that is a bit diferent than the rest. When we root for a driver, i get that sometimes we tend to exagerate a bit his qualities, and see him like someone untouchable, i'm the first to admit that i will defend Gilles or Jean, and will try to show how good they were, but that's it, nobody has to like them, but i have a lot of backing to do it, from other fans, drivers, team bosses, journalists, etc, etc, and i have 40 years of watching, reading and breading f.1.
This is valid for many other drivers fans, but in elton's case (and i say this about the vast majority of fans i see in youtube, and many forums around the net), they seem to be totally ignorant about the sport, most of them only know f.1 since 2007, and they act like they know everything, and everyone conspired against elton since he was born, that the dark powers in f.1 are doing all they can to prevent him from having success, and they push this narrative to the board of insanity!) I never saw this kind of stuff with any other driver! I'm pretty sure many people knowledgeable about the sport like him for his qualities as a driver, they sincerely admire his talent, and all he has achieved, and all the hard work he has done to get where he is right now (heck, nobody with one good eye can deny the guy is very good), but these are a very small percentage of his fans, most of them just don't seem to have a clue about reality. One thing i always liked in f.1 compared to let's say football, it's that it's fans are much more knowledgeable, more polite and educated, i've been at gps amongst fans from other teams or drivers and we all got along just fine, same in rally, we where there to enjoy the show and spend a good time...you couldn't do that in football, there they separate fans, and most of the times they will fight and throw things at each others. With most elton fans i see this kind of behaviour, and if this is the kind of fans he atracts to the sport, i just hope he goes away, because, they are not f.1 fans, and they will be gone as soon as he lives. We all want to see the best drivers fighting on track, and elton is one of them, but i could live without all the bad atention he brings around him.

 

Alonso: "Masi did nothing wrong in Abu Dhabi".

https://racer.com/2022/02/22/masi-did-nothing-wrong-in-abu-dhabi-alonso/?fbclid=IwAR1PbQj2YaiMQOauM0jtf9ZnPKh5tTzfXZBuj1plCagyUuXhhNS0onnJpgA

 

Not all hero’s wear capes


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Absolutely, and have no doubt about it.

 

Max Verstappen has a say on Michael Masi being sacked - YouTube

Pretty eloquent response. Wasn't sure whether to put this in Max's own thread or the 2022 testing thread (since he was asked about it there).

Didn't think it was right Masi was fired given the pressures and having teams scream in his ear (not just toto but also Max's own team). Also said that even Whiting had additional support and he was far more experienced, so why not Masi?

 

Not to derail the topic, but I'm struck by the similarities between LeBron James and Lewis Hamilton.
LeBron has undeniable talent and the results to show for it, but he'll never get the adoration like Michael Jordan.
LH has undeniable talent and the results to show for it, but he'll never get the adoration like ( you fill in the blank).
I'm not sure who M.J. would be in the F1 world, but I feel Lewis knows it's not him.

 

I agree. Lebron and LH are both overrated.

 

I think what hurts you is the fact that Max showed everyone that without a vastly superior car, Elton is far from being that special. But hope never dies, maybe one day elton can win his 7th title.[/QUOTE]

RedBull can be quoted saying they had the fastest car lasr season
https://www.google.com/amp/s/formularapida.net/newey-says-red-bull-had-a-quicker-car-on-balance-over-2021-season/amp/

And yet they still needed masi to win the drivers championship, and failed with the fastest car to win The constructors...

Tainted title...

Funny..... I await the Neway is wrong and i know better than him replys... You MV lovers will try any thing.. Coming out with all kinds of bull just to validate a tainted championship..

 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/formularapida.net/newey-says-red-bull-had-a-quicker-car-on-balance-over-2021-season/amp/

Your wrong, no sorry, i am.. I forgot you know more than Newey himself...

How many years did it take MV to win a none tainted title? Still counting right? Seems a little equal to Perez on these new cars, wonder if he will defend his tainted title, or lose it? How embarrassing will it be if he never wins another LOL... Mean while LH is looking forward to going again for his 8th and max is already debating retirement as he cant handle it....

 

Still banging on that poor dead horse? At least leave the carcass alone!

 

To be adored in F1, you have to be dead ... and I don't think HAM is ready for that yet.

 

M.J., You mean Mary Jane? Go get them Tiger!

 

.. or drive for Ferrari ...

 

Not sure if was covered yet, but saw it and thought of you guys... should cc to HAM thread.

https://www.essentiallysports.com/f1-news-helmut-marko-accuses-lewis-hamilton-of-faking-retirement-claims-to-get-michael-masi-fired/

sjd

 

I think it's largely going to be a generational thing.

 

Toto fans the flames...https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/17848748/mercedes-toto-wolff-masi-red-bull/

Masi is understood to be upset at the FIA's handling of the situation while Wolff says it is not time to move on.

He added: "I haven't spoken to him and I don't want to speak to him ever again. His decisions were wrong and I'm sure that he regrets them.

"The FIA should have seen much earlier that there was a problem.

"There was a problem with the structure. There was a problem of personalities."

 

Toto is right 100% IMO.

Masi managed to throw a cloud over the whole 2021 season with his erratic decisions.

I hope F1 never see the like of him again.

 

The problem was always his office and in-consistent application or never applying the rules. His use of an F1 Team gentleman's agreement about Safety Car and not finishing under yellow - was not a written F1 directive. No loss.

Good day for F1 with him already gone and Uralka-liers and Mazepin booted!!

 

Hamilton's full of conspiracy theories.

He won't be happy until Roscoe or Bieber are appointed RD

 

And i have a feeling he will soon be asking for Roscoe to take George's place.

 

Hmm, I thought the quote was from Toto Wolff?

So I guess that if HAM thinks everyone is out to get him, he might have a point?