Masi needs more support, says compatriot Ricciardo

Daniel Ricciardo said race director and compatriot Michael Masi needs more support in his role, after he came under fire for his title-deciding safety car call in the 2021 season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Masi sparked controversy with his decision to alter the safety car procedure that moved only the lapped cars between race leading Lewis Hamilton and second-placed rival Max Verstappen out of the way after a late-race crash.

The decision set up a last-lap showdown between the two rivals and allowed Verstappen, on fresher tyres, to pass Hamilton and deny the Briton an unprecedented eighth title.

"Potentially Michael needs a bit more support and especially now with a growing calendar,” Ricciardo told Reuters TV. 

"We’re also human and you go through fatigue and Michael is not just rocking up on a Sunday, being part of the race and then going back home. 

"He’s going to every track before, checking out also for other things whether it's safety or whatever. So his schedule is nuts.”

Formula One ran a 22-race season in 2021 and is set for a record 23 rounds this year.

Masi, the only other high-profile Australian in the sport other than Ricciardo, stepped into the role of race director after the sudden death of the respected Charlie Whiting in 2019.

Apart from running the on-track sessions, his job includes safety-related responsibilities like track inspections and visits to new circuits to sign off on their layout.

The sport's governing FIA is conducting an investigation into the Abu Dhabi finale whose outcome will be put before a meeting of the Formula One commission on Monday.

Final decisions are expected to be announced at the World Motor Sport Council on March 18, the same day as Friday's first practice session for the