Lewis Hamilton responds to 'inaccurate' story over reported response to potential Michael Masi F1 return

Lewis Hamilton has said that reports he is ‘astonished’ that Mohammed ben Sulayem is potentially considering a return for Michael Masi to F1 are ‘inaccurate.’

Reports broke earlier in the week that Ben Sulayem, president of the FIA, may well be considering a return in some capacity for Masi, who was removed as Race Director before the beginning of the 2022 campaign after a controversial ending to the 2021 season.

Indeed, the Daily Mail carried the interview with Ben Sulayem, with it stating that he is currently open to everything as he aims to put his stamp on the sport.

That said, the report went on to suggest that Hamilton was ‘astonished’ by the news, given it was Masi’s call at the end of last season that, of course, cost him a record-breaking eighth world championship.

However, Lewis has suggested that that story of him reacting in that way might well be wide of the mark, with him telling reporters in the press conference here in Barcelona ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend:

“I only heard of that story a couple of days ago and I haven’t spoken to anyone [about it].

“Particularly, I haven’t done an interview with that newspaper for at least 10 years.

“It’s inaccurate but I don’t have a particular feeling about it. I’ve not given it any thought.

“I don’t know what Mohammed has said. I don’t know his story, what his agenda is.”

Hamilton, then, appears to be coming across a little less fussed than some claims would have you believe otherwise.

The news that a return for Masi might be being considered by the President of the FIA would always attract interest, though, and naturally Hamilton’s reaction to it would perhaps be the thing looked out for most of all.

He’s done well to play it down to the media, though,