P418 AERTEL 1 418 Wed 23 Feb 08:41:11 RTE 1/7 Masi loses F1 race director role 17 Feb 2022 14:07 Michael Masi has been dropped as Formula One race director ahead of the new season. The news was confirmed by FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem two months and five days after last season's contentious season finale in Abu Dhabi. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton said the race was "manipulated" after Australian Masi seemed to bend the rules to allow the British driver s rival Max Verstappen the chance to win the title following a late safety car. SPORT HEADLINES P200 Next GAA Soccer Rugby
P418 AERTEL 1 418 Wed 23 Feb 08:41:18 RTE 2/7 Masi loses F1 race director role 17 Feb 2022 14:07 Masi, offered a new position within the FIA, will be replaced by Eduardo Freitas and Niels Wittich in a total restructure of race control. Ben Sulayem, elected as president just days after the debacle in the desert, also revealed the sport will use a Video Assistant Referee, similar to the one seen in football, and said communication between the pit wall and the race director will no longer be aired live on television. "I would like to inform you that a new race management team will be put in place starting in Barcelona for the test session," he said. SPORT HEADLINES P200 Next GAA Soccer Rugby
P418 AERTEL 1 418 Wed 23 Feb 08:41:24 RTE 3/7 Masi loses F1 race director role 17 Feb 2022 14:07 "Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas will act alternatively as race director, assisted by Herbie Blash as permanent senior advisor. "Michael Masi, who accomplished a very challenging job for three years as Formula 1 race director following Charlie Whiting, will be offered a new position within the FIA." SPORT HEADLINES P200 Next GAA Soccer Rugby
P418 AERTEL 1 418 Wed 23 Feb 08:41:30 RTE 4/7 Brawn expects pack to tighten 17 Feb 2022 08:23 Formula One motorsport executive Ross Brawn believes Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes team could be off the pace when the new season starts. Hamilton s toxic championship battle with Red Bull rival Max Verstappen went down to the wire last year. And Brawn, who has spearheaded a massive overhaul of the sport s technical regulations, says Mercedes winners of the past eight constructors championships and Red Bull might have taken their eyes off the ball. SPORT HEADLINES P200 Next GAA Soccer Rugby
P418 AERTEL 1 418 Wed 23 Feb 08:41:36 RTE 5/7 Brawn expects pack to tighten 17 Feb 2022 08:23 Jenson Button profited in 2009 when Brawn GP took advantage of a regulation change, winning six of the opening seven races en route to the title. Hamilton was the defending champion at the time but his McLaren team endured a torrid campaign and he took just two victories. The budget cap for the forthcoming year also restricts teams to spending $140million (E123m). SPORT HEADLINES P200 Next GAA Soccer Rugby
P418 AERTEL 1 418 Wed 23 Feb 08:41:42 RTE 6/7 Brawn expects pack to tighten 17 Feb 2022 08:23 "Mercedes and Red Bull could be impacted," said Brawn. "Last year, human resources were devoted to fighting a very intense world championship. "Some of the teams further back didn t have that consideration. "If I had been Ferrari or McLaren in the very early part of last year, I would have put everything into the 2022 car. SPORT HEADLINES P200 Next GAA Soccer Rugby
P418 AERTEL 1 418 Wed 23 Feb 08:41:48 RTE 7/7 Brawn expects pack to tighten 17 Feb 2022 08:23 "That is what happened in 2009. The year before there was a big battle between Ferrari and McLaren and they fell flat on their faces. I don t think it will be that severe but is a good point. "A team has to balance its financial resources each season, too, and you cannot simply throw money at it. That is what teams with deep pockets did in the past. It will provide us with a more competitive field for the future." SPORT HEADLINES P200 Next GAA Soccer Rugby