Former Formula 1 race director Michael Masi has been named Chair of the SuperCars Commission, his first position since being fired by the FIA earlier this year.
Masi makes a comeback to the Australian series after being fired for his conduct in the controversial title-deciding 2021 race between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen in Abu Dhabi.
The Australian was initially fired as race director for the 2022 season, but it was anticipated that he would land a job with the FIA in another capacity.
It was revealed that he would move to Australia to be “closer to his family and take on new challenges” when he announced his departure from the organization in July. Masi will take over the independent chairmanship of the Commission in his new position with SuperCars.
Prior to being named Charlie Whiting’s deputy race director two years later, he served as the SuperCars division’s deputy race director in 2016. After Whiting passed away in 2019, Masi was given the opportunity to become the F1 race director, a position he held until the end of 2021.
Verstappen was able to win the championship at Hamilton’s expense last year because the Australian failed to adhere to the proper Safety Car rules at the end of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix season finale, which caused intense controversy.
“I view this role as continuing the amazing work already done by Neil and the Commission to lead Supercars into a brand new era with the introduction of the Gen3 Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang,” Masi said on his new appointment.
“I’m very proud to have been appointed to this role and look forward to working with the key stakeholders in the sport to ensure the future is an exciting one for our teams, partners, sponsors and most importantly the fans.”
