Philip Mass he wants the 2008 title. The one he won lewis hamilton and that it was the first for the British in the F1. In addition to that, the race, which was the one in Singapore, was won by Fernando Alonso. So far, all good.
But then, what happened that Sunday? the one of Singapore was the 15th Grand Prix, and the first night race in F1 history. Hamilton and Massa were very even in terms of points and everything would be decided in the final part of the championship.
As a result of that came the famous ‘crashgate’. Massa started leading, and Alonso, with Renault, was far from victory. However, the Asturian stopped a few laps later and there he began to change everything.
It was an action that surprised everyone, as the ‘pit stop’ came long before that of any other driver on the grid. It was lap 12, and on lap 17, his teammate nelsinho piquet it crashed into the wall, causing a ‘safety car’ to enter.
Masa’s nightmare began
Massa’s “nightmare” began. He stopped, but left the lead in the hands of Fernando Alonso, and also, his stop was bad. The electronic traffic light Ferrari it activated prematurely and Massa took the fuel hose with him.
The Ferrari driver he lost the Championship by a single point that Hamilton led after that GP. Hamilton was third, and the points of the victory was taken by Fernando Alonso.
Months later the whole truth was discovered. The accident was planned before. Flavio Briatore announced the transfer of Piquet and he denounced what happened as revenge. He claimed that Renault asked him for the crash to give Alonso victory in Singapore.
a planned accident
Piquet went unpunished for telling everything, Renault He denied everything, but the FIA found enough evidence and Briatore was banned for life, with the French team being fined €5 million. And Alonso received nothing for considering himself outside the plan.
After all this, Massa claims the title, and even more after knowing the words of Bernie Ecclestone where he said that the main intention was “to protect the sport and save it from a huge scandal”.
Massa considers what happened unfair: “It was shown to be a steal. The result of that race had to be annulled and I would have a title. The biggest loser with that result was me.”.
