Michael Masi returns as Event Director for New Zealand racing series

Former FIA race director Michael Masi will return to an official race control role as Event Director for the Repco NextGen NZ Championship in New Zealand, starting with the season opener at Hampton Downs International from January 8–10. This marks his first official event director position since his controversial exit from Formula 1 following the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix finale.

Why it matters:

Masi's return to an active race management role, even outside of F1, reignites discussion about one of the most pivotal and debated figures in modern motorsport. His decisions in Abu Dhabi directly altered the outcome of a world championship and led to a significant overhaul of F1's race control procedures. His new position tests whether the intense scrutiny from that event will follow him into other series.

The details:

• Masi will oversee the event operations for New Zealand's premier open-wheel development series, the Repco NextGen NZ Championship, which features Toyota FT-60 cars.
• In a statement, Masi highlighted New Zealand's rich motorsport heritage and expressed his focus on "continual improvement of the sport for all participants and stakeholders."
• Since departing the FIA at the start of 2022, Masi has remained active in Australian motorsport administration, holding roles including Director and Deputy Chair of Karting Australia and Independent Chair of the Supercars Commission.

The big picture:

The 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix remains a defining moment. Race director Masi's interpretation of the safety car rules allowed a final-lap shootout between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, which Verstappen won to claim his first world title. The fallout was immediate and profound: the FIA conducted an investigation, Masi was removed as F1 race director, and the race control system was restructured to include a permanent VAR-style remote operations center and a team of rotating race directors.

• Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff's recent comments, calling Masi "a lunatic who can basically destroy the record of the greatest champion of all time," underscore how raw the emotions remain for some within F1 four years later.
• Masi's move to a national series represents a career rebuild away from the global F1 spotlight, though his name remains inextricably linked to one of its most dramatic chapters.

What's next:

All eyes will be on the smooth execution of the New Zealand championship opener in January. For Masi, it's a step back into the operational heart of race management. For the wider motorsport world, it's a reminder of how a single race official's decision can echo for years, reshaping careers, championships, and the regulatory fabric of the sport itself.