Former Ferrari and FIA main Jean Todt has claimed the notorious Singapore Grand Prix in 2008 was ‘rigged’.
The 2008 drivers’ championship went correct down to the wire, with McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton profitable his to start with globe title by just one place in excess of Ferrari’s Felipe Massa in the final race of the time in Brazil.
However, the Singapore Grand Prix – which was the 15th out of 18 races that year – saw Renault’s Fernando Alonso acquire right after Massa suffered a pit-stop error when he drove off with the gasoline hose however attached to his car or truck.
The race – in which Hamilton came third – was in the end decisive in the earth championship race, but produced controversy immediately after it was claimed in 2009 that Alonso’s workforce-mate Nelson Piquet Jr was purchased to crash by his group in get to improve the Spaniard’s odds of winning.
Massa arrived 13th so failed to decide on up any details and he had only allegedly pitted because of Pique Jr’s crash.
Former F1 chief Jean Todt has claimed the notorious Singapore Grand Prix in 2008 was ‘rigged’
Renault’s Fernando Alonso won the Singapore race soon after workforce-mate Nelson Piquet Jr was allegedly explained to to crash by his staff, with Felipe Massa subsequently suffering a pit-halt error and only ending 13th which impacted his hopes of winning the planet championship
The controversy arose once again this yr when previous F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone instructed the FIA realized all about Renault’s supposed request.
Pique Jr produced the primary promises when he was dropped by Renault in 2009, with the FIA subsequently charging the workforce with conspiracy.
Renault decided not to contest the expenses and threatened lawful motion versus their previous driver, before they received a suspended ban from F1, whilst taking care of director Flavio Briatore and government director of engineering Pat Symonds left the team.
And Todt – who was Ferrari’s CEO at the time, ahead of serving as FIA president from 2009 to 2021 – has now commented on the controversy and claimed much more should really have been finished to deal with the alleged underhand tactics.
‘I really don’t get into the controversy,’ he advised Italian outlet La Stampa. ‘For him (Massa), psychologically, it was pretty tough.
Lewis Hamilton edged out Ferrari’s Massa by just one place to earn his initially ever world title in 2008
Massa introduced a authorized obstacle before this year, boasting he need to be handed the title
‘Maybe we (the FIA) could have been more durable when the tale came out. There is no question that the Singapore Grand Prix was rigged and really should have been cancelled.’
Speaking in March, Ecclestone’s feedback have been staggering as he said: ‘We had enough facts in time to examine the subject. According to the statutes, we need to have cancelled the race in Singapore less than these circumstances.
‘That implies it would hardly ever have happened for the championship standings. And then Felipe Massa would have grow to be globe champion and not Lewis Hamilton.
‘(But we did not act in buy to) protect the activity and help save it from a substantial scandal.’
Massa has due to the fact released a legal challenge to be handed the title, suggesting the Singapore Grand Prix should really have been cancelled.
Hamilton is yet to converse on the matter but his latest staff principal at Mercedes Toto Wolff insisted he will not anticipate Massa to do well.
‘I will not consider he has a case, to be straightforward,’ Wolff reported. ‘We are signing up to sporting laws. They’re incredibly very clear, and you commit as a licence holder.
Ex-F1 main Bernie Ecclestone admitted the Singapore race should have been cancelled
Massa (with Hamilton soon after the final race of the time) also thinks it should be cancelled
‘If all people have been to open up up predicaments, then the sport would be in disarray, and especially when you search at the comprehensive championships.
‘There are so several issues that have an influence whether or not you gain or eliminate that I really don’t see the situation to be genuine.
‘On the civil circumstance side, I do not know. Let’s assess regardless of whether there are some damages that could be claimed.
‘This is like seeing a cleaning soap opera enjoying out in entrance of me.’