Formula 1: Felipe Massa, a former driver for Scuderia Ferrari, has acknowledged that he intends to investigate his options for judicial action. He might be able to contest what happened during the 2008 Formula 1 season when the Brazilian dropped the championship to Lewis Hamilton. Formula 1 LIVE Updates with InsideSport.IN.
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Recent remarks made by former F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone have led the Brazilian to take action. He was the one who provided a new perspective on the pivotal 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. It proved to be incredibly costly to Massa’s championship aspirations that year.
Nelson Piquet Jr.’s intentional accident during that race in Singapore is its most illustrious aspect. A safety car was then deployed, eventually aiding his former Renault teammate Fernando Alonso in taking the victory.
The championship fight was significantly impacted by the controversy as well. As the safety car came out, Massa’s Ferrari team made a disastrous pit stop. It then caused the then-leader to fall significantly down the order and finish 13th. Hamilton, the major title rival, took third place.
It can be said that the world championship’s outcome was decided by the points swing on that particular day.
The following year, Information about Piquet’s purposeful activities became known to the public. Following that, Renault was given a two-year suspension from Formula One.
On this day in 1998, McLaren announced the signing of a 13-year-old young Brit. 🇬🇧 His name was @LewisHamilton. The rest? That’s history. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/msUqEKjnUt
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) April 3, 2023
At the time, Massa put forth requests for the FIA to throw out the Singapore Grand Prix results. But that was against the statutes of the governing authority. Once the FIA Awards ceremony is over, the ranking for each season is finalised under the International Sporting Code.
The FIA Investigation into the Singaporean events also turned up no evidence that Alonso and the larger Renault squad were aware of the crash plan or helped carry it out. The governing authority concluded that changing the outcome would have been unfair.
In light of recent remarks from Ecclestone indicating that he and the FIA were aware of the rules violation before the end of the 2008 season. However, Massa believes there are grounds to review things again.
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In an interview Ecclestone Mentioned about how he decided to not do anything for now and keep it low. All he wanted to do was safeguard the sport and protected from any scandals. He also stated that he asked Nelson Piquet keep his calm for that time being.
In those days, there was a law. After the FIA awards ceremony at the conclusion of the year, a world championship ranking had to be unassailable. Hence it was clear that nobody could stop Hamilton from receiving the trophy.
Massa intends to reexamine the situation. However, it doesn’t seem as though there are any ways to have the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix results annulled.
Protests after a race are not permitted according to the FIA’s own International Sporting Code. Four days before the date of the FIA prize-giving ceremony for that year, or 14 calendar days after the competition, the right to seek a review is completely lost.
