--- title: "Todt Agrees 2008 Singapore GP Was a Farce, Aiding Massa’s Fight Against F1" date: "2023-12-14" modified: "2023-12-14" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/todt-agrees-2008-singapore-gp-was-a-farce-aiding-massas-fight-against-f1" categories: - "News" - "Racing" --- # Todt Agrees 2008 Singapore GP Was a Farce, Aiding Massa’s Fight Against F1 ![]() *Getty \Getty Images\* Felipe Massa isn't alone in thinking the 2008 Formula 1 season should have gone differently. The former Ferrari F1 driver took to the [courts earlier this year,]() seeking compensation from Formula 1, as he feels he was cheated out of that season's driver's championship. A recent quote from former FIA President Jean Todt says that he agrees, at the very least, that the circumstances surrounding the 2008 Singapore F1 Grand Prix were messy and the season's end should be investigated further. During the 2008 Singapore GP, Renault driver Nelson Piquet Jr. [intentionally crashed into a wall]() to help his teammate Fernando Alonso. That crash caused Massa to finish 13th in the race, thus netting him zero points on the day. Since Massa later went on to lose the driver's championship to Lewis Hamilton by just one point, it's possible that Massa would have won the title had it not been for the altered results in Singapore. However, Piquet's cheating wasn't publicly known until after the season was over and the results were ratified on December 31, 2008. The title remained with Hamilton despite Massa's pleas to have the results of the Singapore GP erased. ![]() **Felipe Massa | Getty** What sparked Massa's legal action so many years later was a March 2023 interview with former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, who reportedly told *[F1 Insider]()* there was enough evidence to investigate Piquet's intentional crash before the season was over. Max Mosley was the FIA president at the time, and he was replaced by Todt in 2009. During a recent interview with [*L*]()[*'Equipe*](), Todt agreed that Mosely and then-F1 race director Charlie Whiting knew. “According to Bernie Ecclestone, Max Mosley, my predecessor, and Charlie Whiting, \[then-F1\] race director, were in the know from the beginning,” Todt said. “When I was president of the FIA, I was not informed of this. Discovering that the federation knew the truth before this famous December 31 could indeed change things." "Unfortunately, Charlie and Max have passed away. In hindsight, well, we should have asked for the race to be canceled," Todt continued. "The completely new fact, if it is true and verifiable, is that the regulator who made the championship official knew \[about what happened\]." ![]() **Jean Todt | Getty** There's no guarantee that new evidence would convince the FIA to strike the Singapore GP's results from the 2008 season, giving Massa the driver's title, as that would also strip F1 star and seven-time driver's champion Lewis Hamilton of one of his titles. However, Massa isn't looking for the Singapore results to be canceled. Instead, he's seeking recognition that he should have won the title along with monetary compensation for potential earnings lost. There's no way of knowing how these proceedings will shake out but a former FIA boss publicly backing Massa could potentially help his cause. *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()