‘Sad’: F1 scandal erupts over stolen title

The 2008 world title was perhaps the most exciting finish to a championship in the sport’s history, with Hamilton overtaking Toyota’s Timo Glock at the final corner of the final race to secure the title.

Massa and his Ferrari team, who had won the race in Brazil, had spent 30 seconds celebrating what they thought was a world title, before Hamilton made the pass on Glock.

But Massa’s title hopes took a massive hit in Singapore, the 15th of 18 races that season.

That race is remembered for all the wrong reasons, with Piquet crashing deliberately in order to bring out a safety car that would advantage Alonso.

Massa pitted under that safety car, but a troubled stop saw him finish that race in 13th place. The Ferrari mechanics released Massa’s car with the fuel hose still attached.

Hamilton had a one point lead over Massa in the title prior to the Singapore race, but left the Marina Bay circuit with a seven point advantage. Given the eventual margin of one point, Massa is arguing that the Singapore race cost him the title.

Under Formula 1’s rules, the championship positions are final once the FIA’s prizegiving ceremony is held at the end of the year.

The Renault conspiracy didn’t come to light until the following year, but fresh comments from Ecclestone have cast doubt on the timeline.

Speaking to the F1-Insider website in March, Ecclestone said he, along with then FIA president Max Mosley were aware of the Piquet situation “during the 2008 season.”

“We decided not to do anything for now,” he said.

“We wanted to protect the sport and save it from a huge scandal.

“Back then, there was a rule that a world championship classification after the FIA ​​awards ceremony at the end of the year was untouchable. So Hamilton was presented with the trophy and everything was fine.

“We had enough information in time to investigate the matter. According to the statutes, we should have cancelled the race in Singapore under these conditions.

“That means it would never have happened for the championship standings. And then Felipe Massa would have become world champion and not Lewis Hamilton.”

After being made aware of Ecclestone’s comments, Massa told Motorsport.com that the case should be re-examined.

“There is a rule that says that when a championship is decided, from the moment the driver receives the champion’s trophy, things can no longer be changed, even if it has been proven a theft,” he said.

“At the time, Ferrari’s lawyers told me about this rule. We went to other lawyers and the answer was that nothing could be done. So I logically believed in this situation.

“But after 15 years, we hear that the [former] owner of the category says that he found out in 2008, together with the president of the FIA, and they did nothing [so as] to not tarnish the name of F1.

“This is very sad, to know the result of this race was supposed to be cancelled and I would have a title. In the end, I was the one who lost the most with this result. So, we are going after it to understand all this.”

The 2008 title was the first of a record-equalling seven won by Hamilton, while Massa never came close after that. The Brazilian concedes that changing the outcome after so many years may not be possible.

“There are rules, and there are many things that, depending on the country, you cannot go back after 15 years to resolve a situation,” he said.

“But I intend to study the situation; study what the laws say, and the rules. We have to have an idea of what is possible to do.”

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