Felipe Massa has kicked up a storm by questioning the FIA’s dealing with of the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.
The Ferrari driver desires to know why Method 1’s governing physique didn’t take motion sooner over the notorious race. It was received by Fernando Alonso after his Renault workforce mate Nelson Piquet Jnr intentionally crashed with the intention to trigger a Security Automotive interval which might profit the workforce’s different automotive.
“The precise state of affairs is to cancel the results of that race,” Massa has mentioned. “It’s the solely justice that may be performed in a case like this.”
Whereas Renault’s plan labored, it had disastrous penalties for Massa. He was main the race however headed for the pits when Piquet crashed. There a botched refuelling pit cease by his Ferrari crew not solely price him an opportunity of victory, however ensured he ended the day point-less.
Characteristic: Crashgate – The 2008 Singapore Grand prix controversy explainedThat had important implications for the championship consequence. Lewis Hamilton received the title by two factors having scored six in Singapore. He ran second behind Massa earlier than Piquet’s crash, and completed third.
Massa believes the FIA ought to have cancelled the results of the race solely as soon as it turned recognized Renault had contrived a deliberate crash to win. Is he proper? Ought to the FIA have dealt with this infamous case completely different – and if that’s the case, how?
The FIA World Motor Sport Council dominated on the ‘Crashgate’ controversy virtually a 12 months after it occurred. They didn’t alter the results of the race, as by then the championship had lengthy since concluded and the prizes awarded.
Massa is searching for to find whether or not the FIA had the chance to show the conspiracy earlier than the formal finish of the 2008 season, and subsequently might have dealt with it in another way and probably challenge a call which might have altered the end result of the world championship.
The WMSC known as Renault’s actions a breach of “unparalleled severity”. It imposed a collection of penalties on the workforce and the employees members straight concerned in ‘Crashgate’. Group principal Flavio Briatore was given an infinite ban from participation within the championship (which he later succeeded in overturning) and technical director Pat Symonds was banned for 5 years. The workforce was additionally instructed it might be completely disqualified from the championship if it dedicated a comparable breach earlier than the tip of 2011.
However the results of the disputed race stood. If the FIA had the chance to vary it – as Massa now suspects they did – what ought to they’ve performed concerning the consequence of one in every of F1’s most controversial grands prix?
I say
Deciding a good sporting penalty for Renault’s actions within the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix would have been tough sufficient had it been performed within the fast aftermath of the race. As soon as the end result of the championship was recognized, deciding a good judgement is arguably made trickier nonetheless by the information it had a bearing on the outcome.
However Singapore 2008 is just not like Jerez 1997, Adelaide 1994 or the Suzuka controversies of 1989 and 1990. This wasn’t a collision between championship contenders which determined the future of the title – Massa was affected not directly.
That, for me, is the important thing level so far as it pertains to Massa. Sure, he was onerous performed by, however Piquet’s crash needn’t have brought about him to fall behind Hamilton, which was the rationale his championship hopes took a success in Singapore.
There are not any apparent precedents for this case. Nonetheless it’s onerous to think about that, had the FIA acted earlier, they’d have allowed Renault’s win to face. On the very least the workforce ought to have had its end in that race confiscated.
The thought your complete race outcome needs to be nullified strikes me as illogical, as it might punish the 9 innocent groups along with the responsible one. Had Renault got down to purposefully drawback Massa it might be a unique matter solely, however that isn’t the case – he was the unlucky collateral harm on this sordid episode.
You say
Was the FIA proper to not alter the results of the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix or ought to they’ve revised the standings after Renault’s doubtful ways have been uncovered? And if that’s the case, how? Choose the choice which most closely fits what you assume they need to have performed.
How ought to the FIA have dealt with the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix?
- No opinion (0%)
- Declared the race outcome null and void (7%)
- Disqualified Renault from the championship and confiscated the drivers’ factors (20%)
- Disqualified Renault from the championship, however allowed the drivers to maintain their factors (40%)
- Disqualified Renault from the race and confiscated the drivers’ factors (7%)
- Disqualified Renault from the race, however allowed the drivers to maintain their factors (7%)
- Left the outcome unchanged (20%)
Whole Voters: 15
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