F1 news LIVE: Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton appeal dealt FIA blow as Bernie Ecclestone speaks

Former F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone has jumped to the defence of FIA race director Michael Masi despite suggesting that he is not the right man for the job on a long-term basis.

“In many cases he was overwhelmed with his job all season and maybe shouldn’t have had it at all,” Ecclestone told Bild.

“In the end, though, he made the right decision to let Lewis and Max race against each other again on the last lap.

“It would have been unfair to end such a season and such a finish with the safety car.

“Hamilton would have been world champion and all the fans would have said: ‘What are these stupid stewards doing?’

“No, he did the right thing in this case.”

source: express.co.uk