Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft was seen shutting down his colleague Ted Kravitz, who went on a rant about ex-FIA race director Michael Masi at the Australian GP 2023. Masi was spotted at the paddock, where Kravitz reminded the viewers about his actions from the 2021 F1 Abu Dhabi GP.
Masi was heavily scrutinized for his bizarre decisions at the Abu Dhabi GP two years ago where Max Verstappen beat Lewis Hamilton to win the World Championship on the final lap of the race. Kravitz was among many criticising Michael Masi and continued the same in the recent Australian GP.
“Michael Masi, the ex-FIA race director, has been in the paddock for the first time since that fateful day in December 2021,” said the Sky Sports reporter. "And he's been saying hello to drivers – he hasn't been saying hello to Mercedes people.”
“I don't really... well, I do want to get into it, you know I do. But I won't. What's he doing in Australia? He's in charge of the V8 Supercars, the Australian Touring Cars now. But what's he doing coming back into the Formula 1 paddock?
Watch the video here:
Here David Croft stepped up and was heard shutting down any further comments about the ex-FIA race director. Croft stated that Michael Masi is still human even after whatever conspired in Abu Dhabi. He said, "He is here. He is a human being and it's lovely to see Michael Masi looking well and feeling a lot happier about life. Never forget, whatever your allegiances were in Abu Dhabi, he is a human being."
After the 2021 F1 Abu Dhabi GP, Masi was axed as race director and left the FIA and returned to Australia. Now, he serves as the chairman of the Supercars Commission and was present in Melbourne for the race weekend, with Supercars part of the Australian Grand Prix billing.
