F1 News
Massa remains furious at FIA and F1: 'Sure, I've been robbed of the title'
- GPblog.com
Felipe Massa is still very angry. The Brazilian is convinced that he was cheated out of the 2008 world title partly at the hands of the FIA. "They definitely robbed me," believes the former Ferrari driver, who says he missed out on the title because of a cover-up around 'crashgate'.
Briefly what happened: at the Singapore Grand Prix in '08, Nelson Piqeut junior deliberately put his Renault into the crash barrier, after which teammate Fernando Alonso was able to take advantage of the timing of the safety car and win the race. According to Massa, Bernie Ecclestone, then owner of Formula 1, among others, already knew about Piquet junior's set-up in the year in question. Instead of acting against the Brazilian, the billionaire did nothing.
Massa speaks of 'the perfect championship'
A few months ago, Massa announced he was still considering a court case to annul the result of that Grand Prix, in which case Massa would have enough points him to still claim the world title captured by Lewis Hamilton. Also speaking to Infobae, the Brazilian driver elaborates on the - in his view - injustice. "They definitely robbed me, it was the perfect championship, in which I finished with one point less in Interlagos (Brazil)."
According to Massa, the FIA and Formula did not want to scrap the result of the Singapore race because they did not want to "tarnish F1 's name". But Massa is no longer content with that now. "We are going to fight until the end, because what happened was not fair for the sport, for me, for my country, for the fans, for Ferrari."
Massa awaits FIA and FOM
The Brazilian - former teammate of seven-time champion Michael Schumacher - says many lawyers are currently working on the case. "We have to work for justice in the sport. We will see the response they give us (FIA and FOM) and then see if we go to court or a tribunal, that is something we have to decide."
The regulations in Formula 1 - to which Massa also conformed at the time - dictate that with the conclusion of a championship, there are no more appeals. Nevertheless, Massa still sees opportunities. "In this battle there is definitely money to claim. But I want to have the championship. That cup is the most important thing for me," Massa said.