Formula 1 and controversies go hand-in-hand, with the latter half of the 2000s unraveling some of the biggest scandals in the sport’s massive history. Even as the steam around ‘Spygate’ was very much alive, Renault orchestrated something far more serious over the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, which inadvertently played a crucial role in Lewis Hamilton’s first-ever world championship victory.
Hence, Felipe Massa, the runner-up of the 2008 Formula 1 season, has since been fighting hard to reclaim the world championship title from Hamilton. Looking back the controversial Singapore Grand Prix, Massa was on course to win the race at Marina Bay, subsequently extending his lead to Hamilton and solidifying his chances of claiming the much-yearned world championship title.
However, Nelson Piquet Jr.’s deliberate crash around one of the most complicated corners of the circuit meant that Massa had to bring his car into the pits along with other rivals. But, to his poor luck, Massa’s pit stop didn’t go as planned, as the Brazilian drove away with the fuel pipe still attached to his car.
This incident eventually came back to haunt him at his home race in Sao Paulo where Hamilton won the title by a mere point. Therefore, the Brazilian is using all of his might to win what is rightfully his title, but, so far, there has hardly been a reactionary statement from the FIA.
Felipe Massa urges the FIA to strip Lewis Hamilton off the 2008 F1 title
Amidst the awry silence about the 2008 title controversy, Massa publicly reiterated that the governing body must revisit the infamous ‘Crashgate’ story and acknowledge the alleged mistake in awarding Hamilton the world championship trophy.
“I hope that they understand that the situation that happens, the investigation, and everything that happens (at) that time was not right for the sport, was not fair for the sport,” the former F1 driver said according to The Athletic.
🚨 | Felipe Massa wants the FIA to “fix the situation” of Singapore 2008:
“It was manipulation… A very serious situation like corruption, like manipulation.
“That is not the correct thing for the sport.”
— formularacers (@formularacers_) August 24, 2023
“They really understand that it was manipulation. They really understand that it was a race, it happened — a very serious situation like corruption, like manipulation — that is not the correct thing for the sport. I really hope they look back, and they fix what was not fair for the sport and for the people.”
Overall, by the looks of it, the FIA is standing by its decision not to nullify the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix altogether, and instead disqualify the culprits Renault. But, will Massa’s stubbornness force the FIA and F1 to change their stance on the dramatic 2008 saga? Only time will tell.