Former Ferrari and FIA chief, Jean Todt, has made startling claims regarding the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, stating that the race was ‘rigged’. The 2008 Formula 1 season witnessed a thrilling climax as Lewis Hamilton of McLaren secured his first world title, edging out Felipe Massa of Ferrari by a single point in the season’s final race in Brazil.
The Singapore Grand Prix, held as the 15th race out of 18 that year, played a crucial role in the championship narrative. In this race, Renault’s Fernando Alonso emerged victorious after Massa suffered a pit-stop blunder, driving off with the fuel hose still attached to his car. Despite finishing third in that race, Hamilton’s overall performance proved pivotal in securing the championship.
Controversy surrounding the Singapore Grand Prix escalated in 2009 when claims emerged that Nelson Piquet Jr, Alonso’s teammate at Renault, had been instructed to crash deliberately to benefit Alonso. Piquet Jr’s crash led to Massa’s alleged strategic pit stop. Bernie Ecclestone, the former F1 chief, later suggested that the FIA was aware of Renault’s request.
The initial accusations by Piquet Jr prompted the FIA to charge Renault with conspiracy. In response, Renault chose not to contest the charges, receiving a suspended ban from Formula 1. Key figures at Renault, including managing director Flavio Briatore and executive director of engineering Pat Symonds, departed from the team.
Jean Todt, who held significant roles at Ferrari and later served as FIA president from 2009 to 2021, has now weighed in on the controversy, stating that more decisive actions should have been taken to address the alleged underhand tactics employed during that controversial race in 2008.
“I don’t get into the controversy,” he told Italian outlet La Stampa. “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.”
Speaking in March, Ecclestone’s comments were staggering as he said: ”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.”
“(But we did not act in order to) protect the sport and save it from a huge scandal.”
Felipe Massa has initiated a legal challenge seeking to be awarded the 2008 world title, contending that the Singapore Grand Prix should have been canceled. Massa’s argument revolves around the belief that the race was tainted by Renault’s alleged manipulations.
As of now, Lewis Hamilton, the eventual 2008 champion, has not publicly commented on the recent developments. However, Toto Wolff, the current team principal at Mercedes, where Hamilton currently races, expressed skepticism about Massa’s chances of succeeding in his legal pursuit.
“I don’t think he has a case, to be honest,” Wolff said. “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.”
