Red Bull boss Christian Horner has accused Mercedes of “bullying” tactics resulting in the sacking of former Australian race director Michael Masi.
Referring to Lewis Hamilton‘s blatant refusal to commit to the 2022 Formula 1 season until the finding of the FIA’s inquiry into the controversial Abu Dhabi Grand Prix were released, Horner suggested the behaviour was unreasonable.
“Was it right to fire him based on [the] pressure that was placed on him from a rival team? That for me was wrong,” Horner told BBC Sport.
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“That’s tantamount to bullying. It’s passively aggressive.
“Yes, Michael did make mistakes and it was frustrating, but you have to look at the role that he was in and the tools that he had at his disposal.
“You can’t just place the blame on Michael. It’s unfair to do that.”
Horner has previously acknowledged the lack of support afforded to officials and the need to consider Masi’s mental health.
This has drawn criticism within F1 circles, given the amount of blame and criticism Red Bull levelled at decisions made by the stewards throughout the cut-throat 2021 season.
However, Horner believed it was important to speak out because of the unacceptable way Masi had been treated by both fans and the FIA.
“We were on the receiving end of many of Michael’s errors,” he said.
“But he is in a high-pressure role in a high-pressure sport.
“But what it is unforgivable is the trolling, the abuse online, the death threats that he and his family had. That absolutely cannot be condoned in any way.
“That has nothing to do with the sport. It’s just out-and-out bullying and I would not accept that in any way within our organisation.
“That’s why I spoke up for Michael because I felt that he had not had any support. He had not had any backing. That he’d been hung out to dry and that there was this a concerted campaign that was very passive-aggressively focused against him.
“I will always stand up for someone who is being bullied. Bullying is not acceptable.”
Masi has been offered a new positions at the FIA. The role of race director has been split between Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas, who will alternate throughout the season to lighten the load.
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