Sebastian Vettel blasts Max Verstappen’s F1 title win over Hamilton but defends Masi

SEBASTIAN VETTEL has called on Formula 1 to focus on racing and forget about TV drama.

Last season ended in explosively controversial fashion as Max Verstappen pipped Lewis Hamilton to victory on the final lap of the year to claim a maiden drivers’ title.

Hamilton’s Mercedes team reacted furiously after race director Michael Masi pulled a late safety car in to allow Verstappen to attack their man.

And questions have been raised over whether Masi was too keen to create late drama for the benefit of trackside TV cameras.

Vettel told the BBC: “The main thing is that we focus on the sport and not so much on the show.

“The main thing is going forward is there is clarity in those sorts of situations.”

Netflix was last season filming for the next instalment of the Drive to Survive series but the former world champ insisted the integrity of the sport had to come first.

He was speaking at the unveiling of Aston Martin’s car for the upcoming season and defended Masi, who took over as race director from the legendary Charlie Whiting in 2019.

Vettel said: “There are two interests clashing, the sport and the show, and I don’t care so much about the show.

“It is not the easiest to be in the shoes of the referee or Michael’s shoes, but I think he has done a great job, especially filling in after Charlie passed away so suddenly.

“He has been very focused and determined to do a good job. I don’t know his future, but I hope he sticks around because overall he did a really good job.

“There is a lot of controversy over the last race but there shouldn’t be. Overall he has done a really good job.”

Credit:The SunUK,Getty Images,CN