I doubt Mercedes 'EffWun' (aka Toto's Toys) has that much influence Huub but stranger things have happened.
The single most damaging aspect of what passes for 'Formula 1' today is the vested interests who decree that entertainment rules and that equates to money above all.
After the rabid comments following the Spa debacle it was declared that there were to be no further race finishes behind the Pace Car, possibly influenced by aforesaid vested interests.
No idea where Masi came from or what experience qualified him to be appointed 'Race Director' but I think there is a whiff of 'Jobs for the Boys' in the air.
And the laments for another 'Charlie Whiting' are rather hypocritical as he did come up with the odd creative decision at times!
To be brutally frank it is time for the FIA to undergo a serious shakeup and come up with a 'Race Committee' built around former drivers, team principals and race team technical representatives, all of whom must undergo
a full disclosure of any and all personal interests........but that isn't going to happen!
Liberty comes with it's full share of financial baggage just like any huge corporate institution dedicated to making big bucks, and that's all she wrote.
And an OT footnote: Spa is undergoing circuit 'enhancements', or so I read, the good news (IMHO) attached to this has been the announcement of a WSBK round at the circuit for 2022.