F1 race director Masi 'happy' with first year on the job

F1 race director Michael Masi has given himself a positive assessment after his first year as Grand Prix racing's top stewart.

Masi was thrown in at the deep end of the F1 paddock at the start of the season after Charlie Whiting's sudden passing in Melbourne.

The Australian FIA official was no stranger to overseeing a race weekend's organization, having worked on several occasions as Whiting's deputy in F1 and held a race director role in his home country in Supercars and Super Touring cars.

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Still, Masi had some massive shoes to fill at the outset, replacing a leading F1 figure who had such an enormous influence in the sport.

"I have enjoyed it," said Masi as he took stock of his first full season on the job.

"It will probably be once I’m back in Sydney visiting family over the Christmas/New Year break that I will actually have a bit of time to reflect because I haven’t had the opportunity. It’s been go-go-go for various reasons.

"I’m happy with the job that I’ve done because for me I’ve done the best that I could do and I’ve learnt a huge amount from event to event.

"We all understand and agree that it’s a highly complex industry that we are in but having said that, it’s an industry that I love and enjoy and I couldn’t be more thankful for the support everyone has given me.

"There is always going to be good and bad and you are only as good as the last decision you make in any role."

Looking back on the past year, Masi admitted that Melbourne was, unsurprisingly, his most difficult race weekend to manage.

"What happened in Melbourne was a hugely sad, unfortunate set of circumstances on a number of levels," he explained, quoted by Crash.net.

"I’ve been asked of late what my toughest event of the year was and by far it was Melbourne.

"But overall, I couldn’t have got through this year without the team of people I have immediately around me at the FIA and the support I received there, our partners at F1 group and how everyone chased down to all the operational guys, they have all supported and assisted me.

"Importantly, there are 20 drivers driving cars and 10 teams, that all of them have embraced, supported and assisted me and without everyone I couldn’t have got through this year.

"That’s the simple part."

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