Horner on treatment towards Masi: “The lack of support that was shown to Michael was disappointing, especially at a time when mental health is so prevalent. To hear that his family and he received death threats is not right.”Red Bull team principal Horner also took aim at Formula One for abandoning race director Masi, and said the Australian’s family has also been targeted by fanatics.Horner’s comments come a day after world champion Max Verstappen accused the sport’s rulers of throwing Masi under the bus following his recent dismissal.Masi was removed from his post by the FIA after his handling of a late safety car period which afforded Verstappen the chance to beat Hamilton to the championship on the last lap at the season-ending grand prix.But Horner said: “The lack of support that was shown to Michael was disappointing, especially at a time when mental health is so prevalent. To hear that his family and he received death threats is not right”An awful lot of pressure was put on the FIA to deal with him. And I made it clear in last week’s meeting in London that there should have been more support for him. I was disappointed that nobody shared that opinion.”I have had an exchange with Michael to wish him well. But the whole experience was very, very tough for him.”Verstappen will open his championship defence in Bahrain on March 20, live on Sky Sports F1, with Horner adamant that his driver’s maiden title wasn’t tainted by the events of the season-finale in Abu Dhabi?In the UK media a lot has been made of it because Lewis is obviously a British driver, but I really don’t think so,” he said.
