The ‘Crashgate’ Scandal
At the time, the idea of Hamilton driving for Ferrari was unimaginable, but 2008 remains a year of regrets for Massa, also due to another driver: Fernando Alonso. The Spaniard, who later drove for Ferrari from 2010 to 2014 and came close to winning the championship twice, was Felipe Massa’s teammate from 2010 to 2013. In 2008, while racing for Renault, Alonso won the Singapore Grand Prix in an incident that went down in history as ‘Crashgate.’ The current Aston Martin driver secured victory thanks to his teammate, Nelson Piquet Jr., crashing into the barriers on purpose to help Alonso win. The scandal later proved decisive in shaping the world championship standings.

The Criticism
Felipe Massa has never forgotten the episode and, in an interview with *Relevo*, criticized Fernando Alonso for never apologizing: “He is an incredible driver,” the 43-year-old stated. “He is one of the greatest talents in F1, without a doubt, but that doesn’t change what I think of him regarding the 2008 incident. Fernando did not behave well. He never spoke about it, and that’s a shame because his greatness as a driver does not match the way he acted in that situation. He claimed he knew nothing, but he covered everything up. It’s unacceptable because we are talking about a great sportsman.” – the former Ferrari driver pointed out.

Two Personalities
Despite his criticism, Felipe Massa clarified that the two are not on bad terms: “I never had problems with Fernando, but he has always had two personalities,” he added. “One that he showed publicly and another that he revealed behind closed doors. He was focused only on himself, and in 2010, he had an outstanding season, deserving to win. Perhaps he lost the title due to a strategic mistake. He lost two world championships in the final race, and I believe everything happens for a reason. Nothing in our lives is the result of chaos.” – the Brazilian concluded.

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A year and a half after taking the initial legal steps to claim the 2008 Formula 1 World Championship, the English court has set the first hearings for Felipe Massa’s case, related to that year’s Singapore Grand Prix.

Between October 28 and 31, representatives from the International Automobile Federation (FIA), Formula One Management (FOM), and Bernie Ecclestone will be present to address the legal aspects of the case.

Felipe Massa’s decision to take the championship to court came after Bernie Ecclestone, in an interview with F1-Insider, admitted that he and Max Mosley (then FIA president) were aware of Nelsinho Piquet’s intentional crash in Singapore before the end of the 2008 season and that they would not take action to “avoid tarnishing the image” of F1.

Felipe Massa’s defense argues that the Brazilian was the victim of a conspiracy by the FIA and FOM, not concerning Piquet’s crash, but the subsequent actions, with the organizations deliberately failing to take action even after learning about the incident.

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Despite the difficulties faced during the middle part of the 2024 championship, Ferrari did not give up and managed to react, winning their home race at Monza and securing pole positions at Spa-Francorchamps and Baku. However, it was too late for a title challenge, as Red Bull’s crisis coincided with McLaren’s remarkable resurgence, which for months now seems to have the most competitive car on the grid.

Frederic Vasseur has rallied his team over the past months, bringing in new faces and redefining technical responsibilities following Enrico Cardile’s departure. For instance, Loic Serra, who joined in early October from Mercedes, now serves as the technical director for the chassis. There is anticipation to see if Ferrari, with the arrival of Lewis Hamilton, can be competitive as early as 2025.

Felipe Massa hopes for Ferrari

Speaking to RacingNews365, former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa shared his perspective on the current situation of the Scuderia: “They are improving the car and have had some great races in recent weeks. I really hope they can continue to deliver good performances until the end of the season. Ferrari has shown they have a good car and a good team. Perhaps something is still missing to be at the level of fighting for the championship. I hope they can find it by 2025.”

Felipe Massa was part of Ferrari’s last Constructors’ Championship-winning team in 2008 and the teammate of their most recent Drivers’ Champion, Kimi Raikkonen, in 2007.

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A new life
The first, opened in 2020, is Beefbar, a restaurant originally from Monte Carlo that was ‘exported’ to São Paulo. As the name suggests, it is a steakhouse. The second addition is much more recent, dating back to 2024: in April, Felipe Massa opened the Brazilian branch of another Monaco-based restaurant, Song Qi, also in São Paulo. It is a luxury restaurant focused on Chinese cuisine. “This is the most popular Chinese restaurant in Monaco, I know it very well,” Massa stated in an interview with Forbes shortly before the opening. “I have always thought that São Paulo lacked a high-end Chinese restaurant, and this will be something very different from what we are used to seeing here.”

In pursuit of excellence
During the Brazilian GP weekend this year, several key figures from the paddock visited Felipe at his new ‘culinary home,’ including Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, who is managed by Nicolas Todt, the same person who previously handled Felipe Massa’s interests. “Running a luxury restaurant is like working in a Formula 1 team. Everything must be of the highest quality: the products, but also the people. Just like in Formula 1, it’s all about details. If one cog fails, everything can go wrong,” the former Ferrari and Williams driver stated in an interview with the Dutch website Formule1.nl. For now, however, the results seem promising: Song Qi is among the best-reviewed restaurants in the city on Google, with a rating of 4.5/5.

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Rob Smedley’s impression
Once again, the general opinion is divided between those who fear tensions between the Monegasque and the Briton, and others who instead see the new Ferrari duo as an ideal pair of drivers for the team’s resurgence after losing the Constructors’ title to McLaren. This latter view is also shared by Rob Smedley, who worked at Ferrari from 2004 to 2013.

Former track engineer for Felipe Massa, the Briton gave his opinion on what the coexistence between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton might be like, which, at first glance, reminds him of another relationship he witnessed directly during his time at Maranello: “It’s a completely different situation, but it’s like Massa in 2006 against Michael Schumacher,” he said on the podcast Formula for Success. “Felipe was the apprentice, and it was good that he was beaten by Michael, but towards the end of the year, he beat him in qualifying and even in some races.”

The potential advantages
A lineup that, according to Rob Smedley, will only bring advantages to the team: “We have a seven-time world champion, a young guy who can learn from him and eventually become a champion himself,” he clarified. “Charles will have an edge because he’ll be in a situation where he’ll experience a dynamic very different from what he lived, for example, with Carlos Sainz. They were two peers, both at a similar stage in their careers.”

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Over the last three years at Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton has already faced the challenge of competing against the young and ambitious George Russell. Next year, his primary rival will be Charles Leclerc. While the the British driver struggled against George Russell in qualifying throughout the 2024 Formula 1 season, he consistently demonstrated in races that he remains a driver capable of winning seven world titles.

In an interview with the Brazilian outlet *Estadao*, former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa emphasized that the Maranello team’s decision not to miss the opportunity to sign Lewis Hamilton is entirely understandable. However, he noted that the British driver must contend with the realities of aging. “If you asked me whether I would take Hamilton, as Ferrari team boss, as a driver, yes, I would, without a doubt,” Felipe Massa said. “In terms of talent, he’s one of the best drivers ever seen in F1. But when considering age, perhaps I would have some doubts. In this sport, as in all sports, age matters, and it’s important to assess whether it’s affecting him or not. From personal experience, I know it’s necessary to train harder as you age, and recovery times also increase. Age has negatively impacted many drivers—just look at what happened with Schumacher at Mercedes.” – the Brazilian pointed out.

Felipe Massa’s comparison, however, requires context. When Michael Schumacher returned to Formula 1 in 2010 after ending his Ferrari career in 2006, he had been out of racing for three years. This contrasts with Lewis Hamilton, who is simply switching teams. Furthermore, between 2006 and 2010, the landscape of Formula 1 had changed dramatically, including tires, which won’t be the case for Lewis Hamilton.

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During his early years at Ferrari, the Brazilian witnessed Michael Schumacher’s brilliance up close, observing the legendary driver’s unmatched work ethic and influence. After Michael Schumacher’s retirement, Massa was entrusted, alongside Kimi Raikkonen, with continuing the legacy of success Schumacher had built. The Finnish driver claimed the 2007 world championship in a dramatic finale, but Felipe Massa’s own championship hopes were heartbreakingly dashed the following year.

In 2008, Massa came agonizingly close to clinching his first world title at his home Grand Prix in Brazil. The celebration was short-lived, as Lewis Hamilton’s last-lap pass on Timo Glock snatched the title away in a dramatic conclusion to the season. Despite that setback, Felipe Massa remained a loyal Ferrari driver for nearly 150 races before ending his career with Williams.

Now retired, Massa has closely followed the sport and the rise of new talents, including fellow Brazilian and F2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto, who secured a spot on the grid amidst the ripple effects of Hamilton’s move to Ferrari. Felipe Massa, who battled wheel-to-wheel with Hamilton for much of their careers, is particularly interested in seeing how the seven-time champion adapts to the unique challenges of Ferrari.

In a recent interview with Estadao, a daily newspaper published in São Paulo, Brazil, Felipe Massa shared his thoughts on the potential obstacles Lewis Hamilton may face at the Maranello team starting with the next season. He pointed out that even Michael Schumacher, for all his achievements, couldn’t overcome certain limitations at the Scuderia during his time. Felipe Massa speculates that Hamilton’s age could be one such factor, possibly impacting his ability to perform at the same level as younger rivals in the intensely competitive environment of modern Formula 1.

As Lewis Hamilton enters the 2025 F1 season with the Maranello team, he finds himself with a point to prove to both critics and supporters alike. While the legendary driver has consistently been one of the most dominant figures in Formula 1, recent performances have shown some signs of self-doubt that may raise concern among Ferrari fans.

Throughout the 2024 Formula 1 season, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion has faced significant challenges. He was decisively outqualified by his teammate, George Russell, and ultimately finished behind him in the championship standings. These results have led to growing questions about the British driver’s future with Ferrari, with Ralf Schumacher even expressing doubts about whether the 39-year-old will see out the remainder of his contract. However, it’s hard to imagine Lewis Hamilton not wanting to carry on the momentum he built in the latter part of the 2024 season, especially with the upcoming regulatory changes set to shake up the competitive landscape in 2026.

Lewis Hamilton has always performed best when faced with skepticism about his abilities, and this latest chapter in his career is no different. Throughout his career, he’s never been a stranger to defending his decisions, a trait he displayed when he made the bold move to Mercedes in 2013 after leaving McLaren. Despite the setbacks he faced in his first season with the Silver Arrows, Hamilton’s resilience ultimately led him to success and multiple championships.

Ferrari, however, offers a very different situation than Mercedes did when Hamilton first joined the team in 2013. The Scuderia is in a far stronger position now, with a competitive car that could provide Lewis Hamilton with the opportunity to compete at the highest level once again. Maranello is already putting plans in place to honor Hamilton should he deliver a championship to the team, which would be the perfect conclusion to one of Formula 1’s most illustrious careers. For Lewis Hamilton, the 2025 season will not just be about silencing his critics—it will also be about cementing his legacy as one of the greatest drivers to ever compete in the sport.

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In March of this year, the former Ferrari driver filed a lawsuit not only against the Federation but also against former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone and Formula One Management. His lawyers have claimed that Felipe Massa should be “declared the legitimate winner of the 2008 World Championship, which he lost to Lewis Hamilton by one point, in light of the Crashgate saga that tainted that year’s Singapore Grand Prix.”

Felipe Massa was leading the race when Nelson Piquet Jr. deliberately crashed his car into the barriers. That incident triggered a series of events that led to his then Renault teammate, Fernando Alonso, winning the Grand Prix. The Brazilian fell victim to a disastrous pit stop by Ferrari and finished in fifteenth place.

Former race director Charlie Whiting and then FIA president Max Mosley were aware of the scandal. They remained silent to protect F1 and the FIA.

Felipe Massa’s law firm, Vieira Rezende Advogados, filed the case with the High Court in London, accusing the FIA of “violating its regulations by failing to promptly investigate Nelson Piquet Junior’s crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.” If they had acted correctly, Felipe Massa would have won the drivers’ championship that year. Additionally, Massa’s lawyers are seeking damages.

In an exclusive interview with RacingNews365, the former Ferrari driver confirmed that the case has been ongoing for “four or five months” and hopes it will conclude soon. However, bringing it to an end is impossible because the bureaucratic process is very slow.

“I never thought I would be part of something like this in my entire life,” he admitted. The Brazilian is not only paying a very high price for this injustice, but it is also costing him a lot financially. “It’s not easy. It’s also very expensive; a lot of money. I really hope that things end soon. But we have been waiting for justice for so long that we must hope the truth comes out.” – the former Ferrari driver concluded.

Source: f1ingenerale

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The Dramatic 2009 Incident

“No one ever told me I was no longer the same,” Felipe Massa stated in a recent interview for Motorsport.com. The incident during qualifying had a significant impact on the Brazilian driver’s career. “Naturally, I was heavily criticized by the press because, after my accident, I never won another Formula 1 race. But I came close several times.” – he pointed out.

The missed opportunity in Germany

Felipe Massa recalled with sadness a particularly painful episode that occurred one year after the accident, on July 25, 2010, when he was denied victory in Germany in favor of his teammate Fernando Alonso. “It was one of the saddest days of my life. After that episode, my life changed, because I no longer had a competitive car with which to fight for victories as I had before.”

A Change in Perspective

Despite the difficulties, Felipe Massa does not believe that his accident changed his approach to racing. “I don’t feel that something has changed in terms of how I was before and how I am today,” he added. However, the incident did change his outlook on life. “What I can say is that today I respect life much more, both mine and that of others.”

Appreciation for Life

Felipe Massa expressed a deep gratitude for life, a sentiment that emerged after the accident. “Because you never think something can happen, but when it does, you appreciate life much more. I value mine one hundred percent, and I am grateful for it every day.” – the former Ferrari driver concluded.

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With less than one year left until Lewis Hamilton’s official arrival at Scuderia Ferrari, and judging by what we see on the track in this start of the 2024 Formula 1 championship, it seems that the British driver himself is counting down the days. Since that Sunday in Abu Dhabi three years ago, Mercedes has not been able to provide him with the chance to fight for race victories.

There have been several wrong cars designed by Mercedes since the regulatory change in the 2022 Formula 1 season, which is why Lewis Hamilton has decided to embrace the Ferrari project. Frederic Vasseur has indeed shown that he is capable of fixing a Maranello team that had shown quite a few flaws in recent years. This is also why the British driver has decided to leave the team that made him the most successful in history to join the Italian side, in what could be the perfect ending to his impressive Formula 1 career.

Felipe Massa “warns” Ferrari
After already commenting on the announcement a few months ago, former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa has returned to talk about Lewis Hamilton’s arrival in the Maranello team starting with next season. “I think it’s something very interesting,” the Brazilian admitted – “Both in terms of sport and marketing, everyone has been talking about it for months. Fans can’t wait to see Lewis in the red suit; there is great excitement.” – Felipe Massa pointed out.

“I hope Ferrari gives him a car that’s up to par because in recent years they haven’t been able to compete with Red Bull. And then there’s the battle with Charles Leclerc; it will be very interesting to watch. For Formula 1, it is undoubtedly something really important,” – the former Ferrari and Williams Formula 1 driver concluded.

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Source: f1ingenerale

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