Max Verstappen says removal of Michael Masi as race director 'very unfair'

World champion Max Verstappen says it is «very unfair» Michael Masi has been removed from the post of race director, and he has been «thrown under the bus».

Red Bull driver Verstappen won the world title after Masi failed to follow the rules correctly at a dramatic season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Verstappen said it was «unacceptable» to have allowed team bosses to talk directly to Masi during races.

And he said the decision to remove him was «really incredible».

Masi failed to follow the safety-car rules correctly in two different ways in last year's final race — on the treatment of lapped cars and the timing of a restart.

He did so under pressure from both the Mercedes and Red Bull teams, with Masi seeming to follow Red Bull's advice as he sought to comply with a previously made decision to try to prevent races finishing under the safety car.

When the race resumed for one final lap, Lewis Hamilton — who had dominated the race and was on course for an eighth world title — was left exposed on old tyres and Verstappen passed him to become world champion.

Governing body the FIA has since announced a new organisation for race control. Masi was replaced by two individuals who will share the role, a support structure for the race director has been introduced, and teams will no longer be able to talk to them directly.

Masi will be given another role at the FIA.

Verstappen said: «Of course people talk about what was decided in Abu Dhabi but can you imagine a referee in whatever sport has the coach or equivalent screaming in his ear all the time?

»'Yellow card, red card, no decision, no foul.' It's impossible to make a decision.

«That F1 allowed that team members could talk to him while making decisions is very wrong. It needed to be