Formula 1 exile Michael Masi is reportedly set to make a return to the Supercars paddock in a new capacity.
Last week, it was confirmed Bathurst 1000 podium finisher turned commentator Neil Crompton would step down from his position as chairman of the Supercars commission.
The Supercars commission is charged with deliberating sporting and technical matters before making recommendations to the Supercars board.
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Several reports indicate Crompton has been lobbying Masi to take his position. His departure all but signals that will occur in due course.
Should that take place, it would be the first job in the sport since his unceremonious departure from Formula 1 following the controversial championship-deciding 2021 finale.
Masi is well-known in the Supercars fraternity, having been the deputy race director to Tim Schenken for several years.
In 2018, the Sydneysider was appointed deputy race director for the FIA Formula 2 Championship and FIA Formula 3 Championship.
Masi spent several years as the late Charlie Whiting’s understudy in the deputy Formula 1 race director position, sharing the role with Scot Elkins.
When Whiting suddenly died in 2019 just days out from the Australian Grand Prix, Masi was thrust into the race director role.
Masi’s tenure would last just three years and was littered with controversies, none more high profile than the 2021 season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The well-documented closer saw Masi make a decisive call to let just a handful of cars un-lap themselves under safety car conditions with just over one lap to go.
That set up a one-lap dash to the chequered flag, allowing Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to pass Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes and seal his first Formula 1 title.
The dramatic scenes were investigated by the FIA, the sport’s governing body, and Masi was duly cast aside.
Since then, Masi has been replaced Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas, who share the role as race director.
Masi was offered another position with the FIA, which he declined, before returning to Australia.
“It has been a pleasure and honour representing the FIA as the single-seater sporting director and FIA Formula 1 race director and safety delegate since Charlie [Whiting]’s unexpected and tragic passing in Melbourne 2019,” Masi said in a statement.
“Having worked on various projects around the world with the federation and its member clubs for over a decade prior to my appointment, I have now decided to leave the organisation and relocate back to Australia to be closer to my family and friends.”
It’s thought Masi’s appointment is to be approved by Supercars’ teams at this weekend’s Sandown SuperSprint.
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