FIA replaces F1 race director Michael Masi

Michael Masi has been replaced as Formula One race director, the head of the sport's governing body said on Thursday, with Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas to share the role.

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem presented the changes as part of a reform of race direction and refereeing, which will also include setting up a virtual race control room and reassessment of safety car lapping procedures.

Masi altered the safety car procedure in last season's final race, moving only the lapped cars between drivers Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen out of the way.

This allowed the Dutchman, on fresher tyres, to pass the Briton to take the title on the last lap.

(Reporting by Abhishek Takle and Rohith Nair; editing by John Stonestreet)