General
Ecclestone on Massa case: 'I don't remember saying that'
- Cas van de Kleut
It was announced on Thursday that Felipe Massa has lodged a protest against missing out on the 2008 world title. He is doing so because of Nelson Piquet Jr's deliberate crash at the Singapore Grand Prix, which caused him to miss just the points to finish first in the championship. Indeed, Bernie Ecclestone, who was Formula 1's boss in 2008, said in early March that he and then-FIA president Max Mosley knew about the crashgate scandal before. Now, five months later, Ecclestone says he does not remember doing the interview.
Massa was close to clinch the championship in the absolute finale of the 2008 Formula 1 season. The then Ferrari driver crossed the line still believing he would become world champion, but because Timo Glock was still on dry weather tyres, Hamilton still passed him, allowing the Briton to eventually take his first world title.
Another crucial moment in the championship, was the Singapore Grand Prix. Piquet Jr. deliberately put his car into the wall to give teammate Fernando Alonso the advantage through a safety car. The Spaniard won the Grand Prix, but Massa lost important points, which he would have had without the crash. In March, the then Formula 1 boss, Bernie Ecclestone, made a statement saying that back in 2008, they knew about the set-up of the crash but took no action. This eventually prompted Massa to take quick action.
Ecclestone no longer recalls statements about Massa
So the Brazilian has now revealed in a 'Letter Before Claim' that he probably lost tens of millions by missing out on the championship because F1 and the FIA ignored the incident in the first place. Ecclestone, who is now 92, told Reuters.com that he does not remember making his earlier statements: "I don’t remember any of this, to be honest. I don’t remember giving the interview for sure."