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Michael Massey says he is “willing” to speak to Lewis Hamilton about the 2021 Abu Dhabi final, insisting the Briton and others who believe he has been stripped of the title “have a right to their views”.
Two seasons ago, Hamilton lost out on a record eighth world title when Massi, then the FIA ​​race director, made a controversial call to allow only Hamilton and his title rival Max Weiss. Riders stand out between Tappan in a winner-take-all season finale.
With the race restarted with one lap to go, Verstappen made the most of his new tyres, and charged past Hamilton at Turn 5 to take the lead.
“It’s been rigged,” Hamilton said on the radio as the Dutch battled for victory and the world title.
Many still held to that position, a claim Hamilton reiterated a year later when he was asked if his 2008 title bore any resemblance to the 2021 Abu Dhabi Games.
“No, it’s different, it’s different because this one wasn’t manipulated by anyone,” Hamilton said. “Someone decided to leave the results largely as they were.”
Massey said Brits and others who felt this way had the right to speak their minds.
“They have an opinion and are entitled to their opinion,” he told daily mail At the Australian Grand Prix, he returned to the paddock for the first time since 2021.
“If someone approached me for a discussion, I would be open, and always have been.”
Hamilton, however, doesn’t seem keen on hooking up with Massey.
Asked on Thursday if he wanted to speak to the Australian, he told media including PlanetF1.com: “I don’t.
“I’m just focused on my future. I’m focused on trying to get back to winning. There’s nothing to talk about.”
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Massey resigned as FIA race director a few weeks later and the Australian, speaking to himself, revealed that he had also sought professional help to deal with the barrage of criticism he had received.
“When I stopped at the FIA, I told my parents, ‘those days are over for me’,” he said. “After what happened 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. In many ways social media can be a great tool, but in others On the other hand, it is not so good.
“I take time to take care of myself. It’s good for me. That’s what I need. I spend a lot of time sculpting my body but haven’t spent enough time mentally for a long time.
“I’ve spoken to some people privately, my partner at the time – she was an amazing supporter – and friends and family. As for professional help, I got it, but maybe later than I should have done it – last year down Half a year, but by then things had largely calmed down.”
He added: “I love this job, but you don’t realize how much travel affects you. The last time we saw each other was in 2021, when I was actually living on a plane. Being able to cook at home, being able to catch up The joy of going to relatives is now open to me.
“Agusta, my only surviving grandparent, is 89 and only 10 minutes away. She doesn’t speak a word of English (his family is all Italian) and she loves the fact that I went to see her and have coffee with her .Those little things you don’t understand what they mean. Weddings, birthdays.”
Back in the paddock this weekend, the 44-year-old, who has assumed the chairmanship of the Australian Supercars Council, said: “I was a little nervous when I first arrived on Wednesday, but you’ve seen firsthand the gracious reception.
Massey signed a non-disclosure agreement between him and the FIA, preventing him from discussing the details of Abu Dhabi’s 21 years.
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