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Perez also supports Masi: "People are making a big fuss about it"
- GPblog.com
Sergio Perez was welcomed like a hero in Mexico after the final race in Abu Dhabi. Not only did he help teammate Max Verstappen in his path to the world title, he has also taken a big step forward with his move to Red Bull Racing. He has been talking about his excellent defense against Lewis Hamilton and also shares his opinion on the future of race director Michael Masi.
There was a lot of talk about the decisions made by the race control and stewards during the 2021 season. Some drivers feel there needs to be more clarity on what is and isn't allowed, but Perez doesn't feel any immediate need to do so.
Perez also expresses support for Masi
According to the Mexican, it happens every year that there is some inconsistency in the application of the rules. "It's a difficult sport. It can't be like football, where you get a yellow or red card for a foul. Every track is different, every maneuver is different and there are always different stewards who can judge it differently," he said in conversation with ESPN.
The Red Bull Racing driver therefore sides with Masi. "I don't think it's that big [of a deal]. People are making a big fuss about it. I think we have to be supportive of Michael," he continued, stressing that Masi is also still going through a learning process since he followed in Charlie Whiting's footsteps.
Perez believes that Formula 1 as a sport should continue to stand behind the race director, while looking at areas for improvement in general. With that, he is not the only driver to express his support for Masi. McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo also expressed their support for the race director.