Max Verstappen heavily criticized the FIA's decision to replace F1 race director Michael Masi, insisting the latter was unfairly "thrown under the bus" for the drama that took place in Abu Dhabi at the end of last season.
Masi's decision to circumvent the normal Safety Car rules in the closing stages of last December's season finale to offer fans a one-lap shootout between Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton sparked an investigation by the FIA and a series of decisions that have led to a restructuring of F1's race direction for 2022.
While a majority of members of F1's community admitted that Masi's actions in Yas Marina had been, Verstappen says the sanction imposed on F1's former race director is "unacceptable".
"I think it’s not correct," said the Red Bull driver on Thursday in Barcelona. "Everyone always tries to do the best job, everyone can always use help.
"Like us drivers also – we have the whole team behind us, we prove it ourselves. For me, it’s very unfair what happened to Michael – he was really being thrown under the bus.
"Now, [that they] did sack him like that in the first place for me is unacceptable. And now basically [that they] sacked him is really incredible. I feel really sorry for Michael.
"Because I think he was a very capable and good race director. I have nothing against the new race directors – because I think they are also very capable and very good race directors."
Verstappen reckons that Masi's difficult job of succeeding the late Charlie Whiting as F1's race director coupled with the pressurized environment in which he was forced to work were mitigating circumstances that warranted more leniency towards the Aussie.
"After Charlie died it’s very hard to take over from someone like him," said Verstappen.
"He had so much experience from the previous years, and also Charlie had help around him. And maybe Michael just needed a little bit more. Everyone needs experience.
"[When] I came into this sport, my first year, if I look back at it now, I’m a complete rookie.
"I’m so much better than what I was back then and I think it would’ve been the same for Michael.
"So, to immediately sack him, for me, is not the right decision. But I wish him all the best with whatever comes next and I hope that it is better than being F1 race director."
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
