Massa alleges that Ferrari kept him quiet regarding the crashgate incident.
"This claim was not well-received at the time."
Felipe Massa informed the London court that Ferrari tried to prevent him from publicly discussing the 2008 'crashgate' scandal, and that his then-future teammate, Fernando Alonso, was aware of the intentional crash from the beginning. "In October 2009, I told journalists that I believe Fernando Alonso knew the crash was intentional," Massa stated during his testimony as he pursues legal action against the FIA, F1, and former F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone. "This claim was not well-received at the time." The Brazilian asserts that Ferrari’s contract management company, GSA, produced an official letter asking him to retract his comments. "The letter was signed by Henry Peter," Massa noted, referring to the Swiss attorney representing Ferrari. According to Massa, Ferrari wanted him to publicly make the statement, but he declined. "Ferrari then prepared a statement for me, but I refused to issue it. Instead, I simply said it was time to look forward," he clarified. Massa, who lost the 2008 world championship to Lewis Hamilton by a single point, also testified that Jean Todt, who was Ferrari’s team principal at that time and the father of Massa’s manager Nicolas Todt, already believed the Renault crash was intentional. "Todt said he was convinced Nelsinho crashed the car on purpose," Massa recounted. "I didn’t believe it at the time because I was aware of how much Jean disliked Flavio Briatore. There was a personal rivalry between them back then." These revelations emerge as Massa continues his legal battle over alleged inaction related to the Singapore GP scandal, which he claims cost him the 2008 world title.
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Massa alleges that Ferrari kept him quiet regarding the crashgate incident.
Formula 1 | Felipe Massa has informed the London court that Ferrari tried to prevent him from discussing the 2008 'crashgate' scandal publicly - and that his (…)
