02/10/2009
NEWS STORY
Felipe Massa believes that Nelson Piquet's deliberate crash in Singapore last year robbed him of the title and that the race result should be amended accordingly.
Talking to Brazilian broadcaster Globo, Massa, who is recovering from injuries sustained during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix reflected on the 'Crashgate' saga and last week's decision by the World Motor Sport Council.
"All of what happened was robbery," he said, "but regarding the race nothing has happened, the result stays the same. That's not right. The robbery changed the championship. I lost by one point."
While the Brazilian did indeed lose the title by just one point, he actually finished thirteenth in the Singapore event following a disastrous pit stop in which he headed off down the pitlane with the refuelling hose still attached to his car. Prior to his stop the Brazilian, who had started from pole position, had been leading the race and looked set for a win.
While Piquet was granted immunity after agreeing to give evidence, Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds both lost their jobs at Renault and were subsequently banned from all FIA-sanctioned motorsport activity, Symonds for five years and Briatore for life.
Nonetheless, in terms of the race result, which saw Fernando Alonso take victory, Massa doesn't believe the punishment reflects the seriousness of the crime.
"I have seen in football how a referee took money to throw a game and all the matches he influenced were annulled," said the Brazilian. "The team responsible were relegated. Here they just sent Briatore home. I don't understand it and I don't think it was right."