Mercedes chief Toto Wolff taunts ex-F1 race director Michael Masi with latest cruel jibe

Toto Wolff referred to Michael Masi as an "error human" in the Mercedes chief's latest jibe at the expense of the former Formula 1 race director.

It's safe to say the Australian is not on Wolff's Christmas card list after the way he handled the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last season. It was his decisions in charge of the safety car in that race which led to Max Verstappen snatching the drivers' title away from Lewis Hamilton on the final lap.

The FIA later admitted that "human error" had led to that chain of events. Masi was removed from the role and now has left the sport's governing body altogether, and can be found working in V8 Supercars back in his homeland.

And it was that phrase which Wolff used to take a shot at Masi at an event this week. He was speaking on a talk panel at Harvard Business School in the US, when the subject came up.

"Human error, or an error human," he said, which sparked laughter among the audience and his fellow panellists. Wolff then added: "It changed the result, and it would have made [Hamilton] and eight-time world champion, and the best there has ever been."

Wolff has already made it very clear how he feels about Masi. Asked about it in the 'Duel: Hamilton vs Verstappen' documentary, the Austrian said: "I haven't spoken to him and I don't want to speak to him ever again.

Former F1 race director Michael Masi (Getty Images)

"His decisions were wrong and I'm sure that he regrets them. The FIA should have seen much earlier that there was a problem – there was a problem with the structure, there was a problem of personalities."

After Masi was removed from his post, he was replaced by two people who share the role. But Eduardo Freitas and Niels Wittich have not been immune from criticism themselves this year, particularly over some perceived inconsistency in their decision-making.

As for Mercedes, their problems in 2022 have been of their own making. Their car performance, or lack thereof, has left them unable to compete with Red Bull and Ferrari for race wins, and their eight-year winning streak in the constructors' championship will come to an end.