The Crash Gate scandal that could take the title away from Hamilton 15 years later

Bernie Ecclestone, former director of Formula 1, gave details of the controversial accident at the Singapore GP in 2008, he assured that they should cancel the race, so the champion is Felipe Massa.

In 2008 one of the biggest scandal in Formula 1 history known as ‘Crash Gate’, of the suspect Nelsinho Piquet collided while Fernando Alonso, his companion Renaultpass through the pits, and facilitated the victory of the Spaniards. Almost 15 years have passed and the issue is again in the eye of the storm because Bernie Ecclestoneformer F1 president, confirmed that they should have canceled the race, something that would have declared Felipe Massa the champion and not Lewis Hamilton.

In an interview with F1-Insider, the former president and former executive director of the entity confirmed that “We had enough information at the time to investigate the matter. According to the laws, we should have canceled the Singapore race under those conditions. That meant there would be no impact on the championship standings, and Felipe Massa became the world champion. And not Lewis Hamilton.” Later, he added:”We decided to do nothing. We want to protect the sport and save it from a big scandal. Back then, there was a rule that a world champion’s rank could not be held after the FIA’s prize-giving ceremony at the end of the year. So Hamilton was handed the cup and all was well. Even I still feel sorry for Massa. I pity him. in the end, MrHe won the home race in Sao Paulo and he did everything well. He was cheated and didn’t get the title he deserved, while Hamilton had all the luck in the world and won his first championship. That’s why, for me, Michael Schumacher is still the only record world champion, even if the statistics say otherwise.”.

Felipe Massa will claim the title from Lewis Hamilton

After the statements of Bernie Ecclestonthe Brazilian expilot Felipe Massa He came out to talk to the press and demand justice. “I stress that I am not interested in the financial side of this story and I am interested in justice. If the two most powerful people, the big boss of Formula One (Bernie Ecclestone) and the big boss of the FIA ​​(Max) Mosley), knew about it in 2008 and they kept quiet, it’s very serious and unacceptable for the sport”he declared to Globo Esporte.

In case of cancellation of Singapore Grand Prix, Lewis hamiltonwho finished third and added six points, Massa would not have been outnumbered by just one unit and, in that way, lift the first of his seven titles. The table of the Brazilian with 97 and the British with 92.

How is Crash Gate and who has been sanctioned

On September 28, 2008, the Singapore Grand Prix, the first to cum of the night. On lap 13, Fernando Alonso entered the pits and Nelsinho Piquet, his Renault teammate, had a crash that allowed the Spaniard not far behind and eventually winning the race.. The following year, the team released the Brazilian, who declared it they forced him to drop in favor of the Spaniard, which was directed directly at Flavio Briastore, team manager, and Pat Symonds, engineer..

The FIA ​​investigated and confirmed Piquet’s complaint where He banned Renault for two years from running in F1, banned Briastores for life and Symonds for five years. however, the team continued to compete, the Italian was fired and the Englishman became a Marussia consultant to become a director after the age of five.