Questions Arise Over Lawsuit Against Lewis Hamilton - "We're Starting To Look Back"
As the lawsuit against Lewis Hamilton unfolds, questions about the legitimacy of his 2008 Formula 1 World Championship win surface. Felipe Massa's pursuit of justice over the controversial 'Crashgate' incident has reignited discussions about the events of that season.
Key Takeaways:
- Felipe Massa, the Brazilian Formula 1 driver, is seeking to claim the 2008 F1 World Title through legal action, focusing on the controversy surrounding the 'Crashgate' incident during the Singapore Grand Prix, where Nelson Piquet Jr.'s crash significantly influenced the race outcome.
- Lewis Hamilton clinched his first Formula 1 World Title in 2008 in a dramatic finish, surpassing Timo Glock in the final lap of the last race. Massa's challenge centers not on this race but on the questionable events in Singapore, where he believes Hamilton unfairly benefited.
- Rob Smedley, Massa's former race engineer, expresses his personal preference to focus on the present rather than the past, but acknowledges Massa's right to seek justice. Smedley also revealed that Ferrari suspected foul play shortly after the Singapore race, confirming the 'Crashgate' suspicions.
The legal pursuit by Felipe Massa to amend the history books of the 2008 Formula 1 season has brought to the fore a contentious chapter in the sport's narrative. Massa, who was narrowly edged out for the World Championship that year, is now legally contesting the title, focusing on the contentious 'Crashgate' moment.
Lewis Hamilton's maiden Formula 1 championship win in 2008 was marked by a memorable and tense final lap in the last race of the season. However, Massa's legal attention is on the Singapore Grand Prix, where he contends that the orchestrated crash by Nelson Piquet Jr. unfairly skewed the race results.
Rob Smedley, who worked closely with Massa as his race engineer, shared his perspective on The Race F1 Podcast:
"I've always been a person that, whatever happened yesterday, whether it was good or bad, I get up and dust myself off and move on. I'm interested in what's happening today and tomorrow and the day after that. But that's my personal opinion."
Smedley further commented on Massa's quest for justice:
"What I will say is this is something that Felipe feels strongly about. Everybody should have their personal right to pursue whatever they feel is just. That’s the case with Felipe here.
"There's a lot of different parties involved, we're starting to look back at the past. Where this will end I've got no idea."
The basis of the lawsuit lies in the belief that the 'Crashgate' event was not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of manipulation. Smedley recalls the immediate aftermath of the Singapore Grand Prix and the suspicions that quickly arose within the Ferrari team that the race was rigged. This revelation implies that F1's governing bodies, including the FIA, might have been aware of the situation yet chose not to intervene.