Ex-FIA chief claims race that handed Lewis Hamilton F1 title was ‘rigged’

JEAN TODT has claimed that the Singapore Grand Prix in 2008 was “rigged” and should have “been cancelled”.

The result of the race had major consequences as Lewis Hamilton, 38, went on to win the World Championship.

Renault’s Fernando Alonso won the race after Ferrari’s Felipe Massa suffered a pit-stop error that saw him drive off with the fuel hose still attached to his car.

In 2009, it was revealed that during the controversial race, the Enstone team ordered Nelson Piquet Jnr to crash his car, which helped boost Alonso’s strategy.

Alonso has never given any indication that he had knowledge of the plan.

Massa, 42, had been leading the race in Singapore but ended up finishing 13th after his pitstop, which would not have happened if it was not for Piquet’s crash.

Hamilton finished third in the race and confirmed his title win in the last race of the season in Brazil.

Conversation around the controversy has arisen this year after former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone suggested that the FIA and F1 were aware of Renault’s actions before 2009.

Todt, the former Ferrari Formula 1 team principal, has claimed that the FIA and F1 should have come down harder on the result.

The 77-year-old told La Stampa: “I don’t get into the controversy.

“For him [Massa], psychologically, it was very hard.

“Maybe we [the FIA] could have been tougher when the story came out.

“There is no doubt that the Singapore Grand Prix was rigged and should have been cancelled.”

Massa has since opted to challenge for the title in court by arguing that the GP should have been cancelled.

If he were to succeed then he would claim the title for that year.

Hamilton has been urged to speak on the ongoing legal battle.

Mercedes team principle Toto Wolff fears F1 will be plunged into “disarray” if Massa wins his legal battle.

However, he does not think the ex-Ferrari man has a case.

Wolff said: “I don’t think he has a case, to be honest. We are signing up to sporting regulations.

“They’re very clear, and you commit as a licence holder.

“If everybody were to open up situations, then the sport would be in disarray, and especially when you look at the full championships.

“There are so many things that have an influence whether you win or lose that I don’t see the case to be honest.

“On the civil case side, I don’t know. Let’s evaluate whether there are some damages that could be claimed.

“This is like watching a soap opera playing out in front of me.”

Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk