Not Fernando Alonso’s “Crashgate”, Ferrari’s Embarrassing Age Old Problem Blamed for Felipe Massa’s Championship Loss Against Lewis Hamilton

There has to be some connection between Lewis Hamilton and controversial championship finales. As the Abu Dhabi fiasco was just settling down, recent comments from former F1 mogul Bernie Ecclestone stirred up one of the most controversial championships: 2008. That championship was a drama while it was being witnessed and has turned into one yet again.

Felipe Massa, after Bernie’s comments, is exploring legal options to win the championship. Citing “crashgate” involving the Renault team of Fernando Alonso, the Brazilian claims the championship was his to begin with and that the Singapore GP, where the accident occurred, should be nullified.

But why’s he asking all of this? Due to the safety car brought after the “crashgate” took place, the driver pitted but lost his track position due to the stuck fuel hose. Following that, Lewis Hamilton took the podium and the championship lead, and Fernando took the win.

While fans believe the Brazilian deserved the title, they also believe that Massa lost it on his own and mainly because of his team’s virtue. Massa’s team, Ferrari, is being held accountable as the debate has stirred once again as the team’s chronic issue of botching the pitstop enters the room.

The host of the Late Braking F1 podcast said, “It’s also not Renault’s fault that Ferrari can’t do a pit stop without mucking it up. That is Ferrari’s fault. And have they got that pit stop correct? Then there is every chance that Massa would have some more points on the board.”

“You don’t know that. But you can’t blame that one, Ben. You’re right. The what ifs count back. It’s just a silly game to play. We’ll all end up in a fourth World War but 153 years ago if you go back down what ifs. It won’t go well for anyone. So for me, Massa doesn’t get the title.”

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Rightly so, Massa’s claims to the title based solely on the contention of the crashgate stand weak. The Brazilian must have an answer ready for the ifs and buts questions that may come his way if he does take the legal route to strip Lewis Hamilton of the title.

Career contrast between Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa

Felipe Massa took the win in the 2008 championship’s final race in Brazil. But with the overtake on Toyota’s Timo Glock, Lewis Hamilton took the first championship of his career. And after all this, nothing ever remained the same for Massa and Hamilton.

While Lewis Hamilton didn’t look back for his entire career and has won six more championships since that victory, for Massa, Brazil remains the last victory. The former went on to compete in a rising Mercedes, whereas Massa had to settle for a backmarker Williams until his eventual retirement in 2017.

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To think of it, the careers of both drivers could’ve proceeded in an unimaginable way had the events of the 2008 championship folded the other way. Alas, it is what it is.