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Former FIA safety representative and race director Michael Massey has opened up about the mental health issues he is experiencing after the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Massey made his first appearance in the F1 paddock since the controversial race as part of his duties as independent chairman of the Australian Supercars Council.
“Wednesday, when I first came in, I was a little nervous, but you see first hand the friendly reception,” he told Daily Mail.
Massey seeks help for mental health after Abu Dhabi saga
He was unable to discuss the details of the decision to decide the outcome of the 2021 championship due to his non-disclosure agreement with the FIA, but he did open up about the mental health support he sought after being abused online.
“When I stopped at the FIA, I told my parents ‘those days are over for me’. After the aftermath in Abu Dhabi I told them not to bother reading or watching anything. It’s not healthy. This Place can be a very toxic place. Social media can be a great tool in many ways, but not so great in others.”
Masi claims he didn’t immediately seek mental health help, but eventually saw a professional, which allowed him to draw a line amid the saga.
He continued: “I take time to take care of myself. It’s good for me. It’s just what I need. I spend a lot of time getting in shape physically, but I haven’t put enough mental effort into it for a long time. .”
“I’ve spoken to a number of people privately, my partner at the time – she’s been an amazing support – and friends and family. As far as professional help, I’ve had it, but maybe later than I should have done it – late last year , but by then things had largely calmed down.”
F1 travel takes its toll on Masi
One of the demands of working in F1 is flying between races, and Masi claims he has felt “lived on the plane” for most of his role.
Now that he works closer to home, he enjoys spending time with his family, connecting with relatives.
“I love this job, but you don’t realize how much travel affects you. The last time we saw each other was in 2021 and I was literally living on a plane. The joy of being able to cook at home, being able to catch up Living with relatives is now open to me,” he explained.
“Agusta, my only surviving grandparent, is 89 years old and only 10 minutes away. She doesn’t speak English (both his grandparents are Italian) and she likes me to visit her and chat with her and drink with her coffee.
“Those little things. You don’t understand what they mean. Weddings, birthdays.”
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