-In what may have seemed as a late April Fool’s Joke, Felipe Massa dropped a bombshell that could shatter the fabric of the Formula 1 world as we know it.
Massa now pledges to dive deep into the rule book of F1 and explore every rule to determine whether he should be crowned the 2008 world champion. Never in history has a title been overturned, more so never after such a lengthy period. But here we are 15 years later…
Crash-Gate
Crash-gate was a controversy that arose during the 2008 Formula One Season when Renault F1 team was alleged to have instructed their driver Nelson Piquet Jr. to deliberately crash his car during the Singapore Grand Prix 2008 to cause a safety car period which would give his teammate Fernando Alonso an advantage to win the race. The scandal resulted in the team’s executive director Flavio Briatore and chief engineer Pat Symonds being banned from the sport, and the Renault team receiving a two-year suspended ban from Formula One. The incident is widely considered as one of the biggest controversies in the history of Formula One.
The Crash-gate scandal did not directly affect Massa and Hamilton, but it did have an impact on the 2008 Formula One World Championship. Prior to the Singapore Grand Prix, Hamilton was leading the championship by one point over Massa. Alonso’s victory at the Singapore Grand Prix, which was allegedly helped by Piquet Jr’s crash, allowed him to jump from fourth to third in the championship standings, ahead of both Massa and Hamilton.
The result of the Singapore Grand Prix had a significant effect on the championship race as it helped Hamilton to extend his lead over Massa to seven points. However, the championship went down to the wire in the final race of the season, with Hamilton winning the championship by just one point over Massa, in what is considered as one of the most dramatic finishes to a Formula One season. The controversy surrounding Crashgate added to the drama of the season and remains a prominent topic in the history of Formula One.
What does f1 rules state about a fixed race?
The FIA rulebook, which governs all Formula One races, has strict rules in place to prevent teams from fixing races, as such actions are considered unethical and contrary to the spirit of fair play in motorsport.
According to Article 12.1.1 of the FIA Sporting Regulations, “any fraudulent conduct or any act prejudicial to the interests of any competition or to the interests of motorsport generally” is strictly prohibited.
Furthermore, Article 39.1 of the FIA statutes states that any person or organization involved in motor sport must “act with the highest degree of integrity and ethical behaviour”, and that they must refrain from any action that could harm the image or reputation of motor sport. If a team or individual is found to have engaged in any form of race-fixing, they could face serious consequences, including disqualification from the race, exclusion from championship standings, and even suspension or expulsion from the sport. The FIA has a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of cheating or misconduct in motor sport and works hard to ensure that all races are conducted with the highest degree of fairness and integrity.
Can they disregard the race from the season?
Yes, the FIA has the power to take away a race if it has been found to have been corrupted or fixed. If any team or individual is found to have engaged in fraudulent conduct or any act prejudicial to the interests of the competition or the interests of motorsport generally, the FIA may take appropriate disciplinary action.
The FIA also conducted a thorough investigation into the Singapore Grand Prix 2008 but did not take the step of taking away the race from the history books. However, it remains one of the most controversial incidents in the history of Formula One (Cough Cough, Abu Dhabi 2021?), and the FIA continues to take a strong stance against any form of race-fixing in the sport.
Whether they should or should retrospectively be one of the hottest discussions ever. It will come down to the proof that Massa acquires and how it is presented. It will have the most impact for Lewis as he will lose a championship and not have equaled Schumacher’s total. For Massa it will be redemption as he will obtain the title he was “robbed” off.
The Timing of Timed Penalties – NERDGASM
