Fernando Alonso was forced out of his car on the final day of Formula One pre-season testing in Barcelona after the vehicle went up in smoke. Alonso had criticised Masi before but said he hoped he had not been removed as race director due to events in Abu Dhabi. ‘On the whole theme of Abu Dhabi, maybe I have a different opinion, I don’t think that there was anything wrong there,’ Alonso told The Race. ‘I don’t think that they changed it [the race control structure] because of Abu Dhabi, or I hope not.’. Alonso was one of the most outspoken drivers over the officiating during the 2021 season, and even called Masi ‘too soft’ before the race in Abu Dhabi after the race director failed to take action on a driver from effectively blocking his qualifying lap.

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