What is ‘Crashgate’? Felipe Massa sues FIA and F1 over Renault crash controversy that led to Lewis Hamilton’s first world title
Lewis Hamilton’s maiden Formula 1 world title could be at risk after Felipe Massa filed a lawsuit over the events of the 2008 season.
The Brit would have been a record eight-time world champion without FIA intervention in 2021, but now faces the possibility of dropping down to six.
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As it stands, Hamilton is still on seven titles, the first of which he took home with McLaren in 2008 with Ferrari’s Massa finishing runner-up.
Hamilton crossed the line in fifth after a dramatic overtake on Timo Glock at the final corner of the final lap of the final race in Brazil to earn enough points to pip his rival by one.
Yet despite the drama in Sao Paulo, the real controversy came just over a month earlier at the Singapore Grand Prix.
That GP later became known for being the site of the Renault Formula 1 crash controversy, also dubbed 'Crashgate'.
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16 years later, Massa has filed a lawsuit in London against the FIA, F1 Management and Bernie Ecclestone over the events that transpired.
The former Ferrari driver is seeking up to £62million in damages to cover his lost prize money and sponsorships deals that he would have obtained as champion.
Massa’s lawyers claim: "Mr Massa would have won the drivers’ championship that year. Mr Massa also seeks damages for the significant financial loss he has suffered due to the FIA's failure, in which Mr Ecclestone and FOM were also complicit.
"Attempts to find an amicable resolution have been unsuccessful, leaving Mr Massa with no choice but to initiate legal proceedings," - Here's what we know...
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The context
Renault had successfully coaxed two-time world champion Fernando Alonso back following his bitter exit from McLaren in 2008.
The Spaniard was their lead driver alongside rookie team-mate Nelson Piquet Jnr, son of the three-time F1 champ.
Yet Renault hadn't built a competitive car that season and hadn't achieved a win or even a single pole position by the time they arrived in Singapore, the 15th race of an 18-race season.
Instead, Renault managed one measly podium from the first 14 races, while McLaren and Ferrari fought for both the drivers and constructors championships.
Heading to Singapore, McLaren's Hamilton was on top of the table with four races to go on 77 points, just one ahead of title rival Massa.
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The race
Alonso had shocked the rest of the grid by going fastest in the final two practice sessions in Singapore.
However, mechanical issues in qualifying saw him end up 15th while Massa started the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix from pole position.
During the refuelling era, the orthodox race strategy would be for drivers at the back of the field to opt for heavier fuel loads to make one fewer pit stop than the leaders and hopefully make up the time difference.
On race day Renault ran light on fuel in Alonso's car to make it quicker but as expected, the traffic around him slowed his pace.
The 42-year-old had only managed to gain four places up to 11th (outside the points) when he was forced to pit on the 12th lap to stick on a new set of tyres and refuel.
Alonso rejoined the grid at the back and could only get somewhere near race contention with a quick introduction of a safety car.
And just three laps later, his teammate Piquet stuck his car into the circuit wall at turn seventeen.
The turn where he crashed was also significant as there was no nearby crane to remove his car, so a safety car was deployed.
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Regulations in 2008 meant drivers could not pit once a safety car had been brought out - if they did then it would result in a 10-second stop/go penalty but the alternative was running out of fuel and retiring.
Alonso suddenly found himself fifth and as the race progressed, those who pitted had to serve time penalties and those who stayed out had to pit for fresh tyres later in the race anyway, opening up the opportunity for him to take victory.
Alonso did exactly that, with what seemed, at least at the time, like an amazing piece of good fortune.
However, the result was detrimental for others as, during the pitstop chaos, Massa was among the drivers who came in but Ferrari prematurely released him with the fuel hose still attached.
He was slapped with a time penalty for an unsafe release and ultimately finished 13th, with Hamilton ending up third.
That stretched the latter's gap in the standings to seven points, with Massa unable to claw back the difference by the end of the Brazil finale.
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Fallout
Piquet returned to Renault for 2009 but was replaced by Romain Grosjean just ten races into the season after failing to score a point.
Piquet reacted in a fury, by telling the FIA that the team had asked him to crash deliberately in Singapore to give Alonso his pit-stop advantage.
Following an investigation, the FIA charged Renault with breaching Article 151c of the International Sporting Code.
Renault's managing director, Flavio Briatore and its executive director of engineering, Pat Symonds both later resigned and Renault were disqualified from F1, but the sentence was suspended for two years, should they break another rule in that period.
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And now
By the time these revelations came out Hamilton had been handed the trophy, which could not be reversed under the sport's rules.
Yet had F1 bosses known at the time then the Singapore race would have been cancelled - a decision which would have seen Massa win the world championship.
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Shockingly, former CEO Bernie Ecclestone has revealed he did discover the plot in 2008 but said he chose not to act.
Upon hearing Ecclestone’s comments, Massa is now seeking to explore his options which include challenging the result.