WATCH: ’New’ footage casts Michael Masi as true villain behind Lewis Hamilton/Max Verstappen fiasco

Johannesburg — Just when it seemed that the genuine rage surrounding Lewis Hamilton losing a record-breaking eight world title had shimmered down, the internet discovered “new” audio that reignited the wrath of F1 and Hamilton fans.

The post, which was doing heavy circulation on Twitter on Wednesday, revealed "new" radio communications between Red Bull team manager Jonathan Wheatley and race director Michael Masi in the final laps of the season ending Abu Dhabi GP in December last year.

It is then that Max Verstappen stormed to a controversial, final lap victory which saw him win the race and lift the world drivers’ championship, much to the joy of Red Bull and the Dutchman’s supporters and the confusion of everyone else.

Shocking radio from the #AbuDhabiGP between RBR and Michael Masi.Some have excused Masi's actions as a mistake under pressure, but this gives the impression that he essentially followed Horner and Wheatley's EXACT instructions #MasiOUT #F1xed #WWF1 #RaceAgainstManipulation @fia pic.twitter.com/KjMY7IVNn3

In the proceeding months, Hamilton’s fanbase has been apoplectic, arguing that Hamilton was robbed of the title, that Verstappen should not be recognised as champion and that the 24-year-old should be stripped of the honour.

Taken out of context, the "new" audio certainly seems to support their argument; and it once again fired up Hamilton fans' wrath, despite the fact that the clip has been available to the public since the end of last year.

In it, Wheatley can be heard saying to race director Masi in the dying moments of the race: “Obviously, these lapped cars, you don’t need to let them go … right away round and catch up with the back of the pack.

“You need to let them go … and then we got a motor