A former F1 race director has found a new job! Michael Masi has become chairman of the Australian Supercars Commission

Arguably the most controversial person of the last F1 season left the International Automobile Federation (FIA) in July. Michael Masi has headed back to his native Australia for family and new challenges. But the former F1 race director has not hesitated to seek a new challenge in the world of motorsport. He is to take up the position of chairman of the commission of Australia’s popular Supercars racing series.

Masi is expected to replace Supercars CEO Shane Howard, who is acting as interim chairman of the commission after Neil Crompton left the role at the end of June.

Crompton’s departure as chairman of the commission appears to be directly related to the plan to reinstate Masi. According to Motorsport sources, Masi’s arrival in the series is expected to be officially confirmed this weekend at Sandown. The well-known Australian Supercars series will run its ninth race of the season there.

“No decision has been made and discussions are continuing to confirm the new chairman of the committee,” a Supercars spokesman said in a statement to the GP Fans website.

Masi stood alongside Charlie Whiting until 2018 as the right-hand man to the then race director, who died unexpectedly just before the start of the 2019 season. The Australian subsequently oversaw F1 racing until the controversial Abu Dhabi VC in 2021.

Lewis Hamilton drove to a record eighth world championship title in that grand prix. Nicholas Latifi’s accident a few laps from the end forced the safety car to pull out. On the penultimate lap of the final race, it dropped the cars running a lap back between title rivals Hamilton and Max Verstappen.

He also ordered a restart on this lap. Verstappen subsequently overtook Hamilton on brand new tyres to become Formula One World Champion for the first time in his career.

Source: Motorsport, GP Fans