A striking revelation has surfaced amid Felipe Massa’s ongoing pursuit of justice over the 2008 Crashgate scandal — this time implicating Fernando Alonso in a deeper way than before. Massa testified that back in 2009, he had privately told journalists that Alonso, then driving for Renault, was aware of his teammate Nelson Piquet Jr.’s deliberate crash during the infamous Singapore Grand Prix. His statement, largely forgotten at the time, has resurfaced as a critical piece of evidence in Massa’s legal offensive. “In October 2009, I told journalists I believed Fernando Alonso knew the crash was intentional,” Massa disclosed, reigniting one of Formula 1’s most controversial episodes.
Shortly after making those comments, Massa said he was reprimanded by Ferrari, who at the time wanted to maintain diplomatic distance from the controversy. According to Massa, he received a formal letter from Ferrari’s legal representatives warning him to stay silent regarding Alonso’s alleged involvement. “When Ferrari found out, GSA wrote me a letter on 16 October 2009 reprimanding me for making public comments about Fernando Alonso,” he recounted. The letter, signed by Ferrari’s legal counsel Henry Peter, came just months before Alonso’s high-profile transfer to the Scuderia for the 2010 season.
Massa further revealed that Ferrari attempted to control the narrative by drafting a public statement for him — one that would walk back his remarks about Alonso. He, however, refused to comply. “Ferrari then drafted a statement for me to issue, but I refused to make that statement,” Massa explained. Instead, he opted for a diplomatic yet defiant message: “I just said it was time to look to the future.” This refusal not only showcased his independence but also hinted at tensions between driver loyalty and team politics during a time when Ferrari sought to protect its future star signing.
As of this week, preliminary hearings are underway to determine whether Massa’s case will advance to a full trial. His legal team is seeking substantial compensation for the 2008 world title they claim was unjustly taken due to Renault’s race manipulation in Singapore. The case has pitted Massa against the FIA, Formula One Management (FOM), and former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, turning the legal proceedings into a symbolic clash between individual integrity and institutional power.
The FIA, unsurprisingly, has dismissed Massa’s lawsuit in scathing terms, labeling it “torturous” and “overly ambitious.” The governing body’s response also highlights alleged strategic and operational errors by both Massa and Ferrari during that fateful Grand Prix and across the 2008 season. Still, the resurfaced Alonso detail adds new gravity to the controversy — blurring the lines between complicity and silence, and ensuring that Crashgate remains a ghost that refuses to rest in the archives of Formula 1 history.
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