Former F1 race director Niels Wittich has defended his predecessor Michael Masi's controversial decisions during the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that secured Max Verstappen his first world championship. Wittich, who officiated from 2022 to 2024, argues Masi acted within his authority despite the decisions contradicting F1's sporting regulations.

The title-deciding race saw Hamilton leading by 11 seconds before a safety car neutralization. Masi allowed only the five lapped cars between the rivals to unlap themselves before immediately calling the safety car in, enabling Verstappen to overtake on the final lap. Wittich notes this approach aligned with F1's preference for green flag finishes.

Despite Masi's actions being deemed "human error" by the FIA, Wittich criticizes the federation's lack of support for the race director. After the controversial season-ending race, Masi faced abuse and death threats before eventually leaving the position. The FIA later attributed the incident to a "human error" and removed Masi from his role.