Former Components One driver Felipe Massa has accused auto racing’s governing physique of conspiring to forestall him from profitable the 2008 title, and the Brazilian claimed he’s the “rightful” champion.
Key factors:
- Felipe Massa claims Components One’s governing physique conspired to forestall him profitable the 2008 title
- He believes a deliberate crash in Singapore that 12 months led to him shedding that race, and lacking out on the eventual title
- Lewis Hamilton would go on to win the title by one level, the first of seven championships in his profession
Massa, who was the runner-up to Lewis Hamilton within the 2008 season, made his declare in a letter despatched to the FIA in step one of a authorized battle to happen in Britain.
A member of Massa’s administration group stated the letter was additionally despatched to Components One Administration (FOM), alleging the 2 our bodies didn’t act after studying that very same 12 months that Renault’s Nelson Piquet Jr had intentionally crashed on the Singapore Grand Prix to assist then-teammate Fernando Alonso win the race.
The crash induced a security automotive to come back in with Massa within the lead and squandered his benefit. A calamitous pit cease on the Ferrari packing containers quickly after price the Brazilian the race, the place he completed thirteenth.
McLaren’s Hamilton completed third in Singapore. The British driver went on to raise the primary of his seven titles that 12 months with a dramatic fifth-place end on the Brazilian Grand Prix, which was gained by Massa. The distinction between the 2 drivers was one level.
“Merely put, Mr Massa is the rightful 2008 champion, and F1 and the FIA intentionally ignored the misconduct that stripped him of that title,” the letter states.
Massa’s letter was triggered by an interview of former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, who stated in March that he was conscious of Piquet’s deliberate crash in that very same 12 months however selected to not examine it till Hamilton acquired the season’s title at an FIA ceremony.
Massa argues that such choice can be a breach of contract, accusing the 2 our bodies of failing to protect the integrity of the game. The Brazilian driver didn’t reply to an AP request to remark.
The FIA and FOM didn’t make feedback about Massa’s letters.
AP
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