In the wake of the controversy surrounding Hamilton, the FIA has launched an investigation, and Mercedes is set to unveil their new car.
Furthermore, the prevalence of one-year contracts had resulted in a severe lack of job security, which had begun to weigh heavily on Bottas' mind.
Masi's future as a race director is far from guaranteed, and Brundle is concerned that the Australian may be the one to lose his job.
George Russell first drove for Mercedes as a one-off stand-in during the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix, a race he was unlucky to not win.
The 2021 Formula One season was exciting, but it concluded in controversy, with Verstappen edging out Hamilton in a dramatic final lap fight.
There has been plenty of speculation that Mercedes want Michael Masi gone from his position as FIA Formula 1 race director.
Damon Hill does think that Masi let the prospect of a last shootout between the title rivals cloud his judgement.
Masi has been criticized for his handling of the Safety Car restart at the end of the race, a decision that proved crucial in determining the champion.
The Mercedes F1 team announced on Tuesday (January 18) that they will launch their 2022 car, the W13, on February 18 2022.
Wolff told the Kronen Zeitung newspaper that the seven-time world champion just needs time to process how he lost the 2021 championship.