Lewis Hamilton first Formula 1 title under threat as Felipe Massa considers legal action after shocking Bernie Ecclestone revelation
Lewis Hamilton’s first-ever Formula 1 world title could be at risk with Felipe Massa considering challenging the result.
The Brit took his first of a joint-record seven championships with McLaren in 2008 from Ferrari's Massa with one of the most incredible finales the sport has ever seen.
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At a drying Sao Paulo circuit, Hamilton was able to make up the necessary positions on the final lap to achieve more points than his rival who was already celebrating the title after crossing the finish line.
A lunge on Timo Glock at the final corner saw Hamilton finish fifth behind race-winner Massa, ending up a point ahead in the driver’s championship, sealing his maiden title.
However, that wasn’t the only shocking moment during the 2008 season, with ‘Crashgate’ at the Singapore Grand Prix.
Renault driver Nelson Piquet Jr was found to have intentionally crashed at the round 15 race to help teammate Fernando Alonso climb from 15th to first, seeing the team receive a suspended two-year ban, and two directors banished from the sport.
Those revelations didn’t come out until almost a year later though, but Hamilton had already been handed the trophy, a decision that cannot be reversed according to the sport’s rules.
During the Singapore race Hamilton finished third and Massa 13th - a title-deciding point swing had the race been cancelled - which would have been the case had the sport’s bosses known at the time.
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Now former CEO Bernie Ecclestone has shockingly revealed exactly that, but said he chose not to act.
Speaking to F1 Insider, he explained: “We decided not to do anything for now. We wanted to protect the sport and save it from a huge scandal. That's why I used angelic tongues to persuade my former driver Nelson Piquet to keep calm for the time being.
“Back then, there was a rule that a world championship classification after the FIA ​​awards ceremony at the end of the year was untouchable. So Hamilton was presented with the trophy and everything was fine.
“We had enough information in time to investigate the matter. According to the statutes, we should have cancelled the race in Singapore under these conditions.
“That means it would never have happened for the championship standings. And then Felipe Massa would have become world champion and not Lewis Hamilton.â€
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Upon hearing Ecclestone’s comments, Massa has that he is exploring whether or not he will challenge the result.
He said: “There is a rule that says that when a championship is decided, from the moment the driver receives the champion's trophy, things can no longer be changed, even if it has been proven a theft.
“At the time, Ferrari's lawyers told me about this rule. We went to other lawyers and the answer was that nothing could be done. So I logically believed in this situation.
“But after 15 years, we hear that the [former] owner of the category says that he found out in 2008, together with the president of the FIA, and they did nothing [so as] to not tarnish the name of F1.
“This is very sad, to know the result of this race was supposed to be cancelled and I would have a title. In the end, I was the one who lost the most with this result. So, we are going after it to understand all this.
“There are rules, and there are many things that, depending on the country, you cannot go back after 15 years to resolve a situation.
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“But I intend to study the situation; study what the laws say, and the rules. We have to have an idea of what is possible to do.
“I would never go after it thinking financially,†he said. “I would go after it thinking about justice.
“I think if you've been punished for something that wasn't your fault, and it's the product of a robbery, a stolen race, justice has to be served.
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“In fact, the right situation is to cancel the result of that race. It is the only justice that can be done in a case like this.
“We have already seen other situations happening in sports, such as Lance Armstrong (cyclist), who was proven to have doped, and he lost all the titles. What is the difference?â€
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