President of Brazil’s Motor Racing Confederation endorses Felippe Massa as the rightful 2008 champion

Lewis Hamilton won the 2008 title in Brazil, edging out Felipe Massa by a single point.

President of Brazil’s Motor Racing Confederation endorses Felippe Massa as the rightful 2008 champion

Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa (Via IMAGO)

At the leadership of the ‘Confederaço Brasileira de Automobilismo’ (CBA), Giovanni Guerra expresses unshakable support for Felipe Massa‘s ambition to be crowned the genuine champion of the 2008 Formula One season. The narrative of the historic “Crashgate” controversy 2008 has been reignited, with Massa seeking legal recourse and beginning a quest to nullify the Singapore Grand Prix results owing to the disputed Crashgate event.

Massa’s ambition to reclaim his 2008 championship title, where he fell agonizingly short of Lewis Hamilton by a single point, has triggered fervent debates within the motorsport community. Bernie Ecclestone, the former F1 chief, wades into the fray, casting aspersions on Massa’s motives, alleging a pursuit of financial gains and stirring the pot of controversy.

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Amid the ongoing debate over Felipe Massa’s bid to claim the 2008 Formula 1 championship, Giovanni Guerra, President of the Brazilian Federation, plays a crucial role. As reported by Soymotor.com, Guerra strongly affirms the CBA’s allegiance to Brazilian drivers. He stated, “It is the duty of the CBA to unconditionally support claims made to the FIA by its members.” He emphasizes their commitment to the sporting domain, avoiding economic or political entanglements.

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Guerra emphasizes that the CBA’s backing is confined to the sporting arena, as he articulates, “In this sense, the president has already expressed his support within the FIA – and for the driver himself – exclusively in the sporting field.” He makes it clear that they steadfastly avoid economic, political, or judicial entanglements, aligning with the principles enshrined in his statement.

Discover: Felipe Massa hits back at Bernie Ecclestone for his ‘only concerned with money’ dig

Giovanni Guerra emphasizes that his support for Felipe Massa doesn’t diminish Lewis Hamilton’s ’08 performance

Felipe Massa and Lewis Hamilton in 2008
Felipe Massa and Lewis Hamilton in 2008 (Credits: Eurosport)

The “Crashgate” scandal in 2008 involved Renault’s alleged race-fixing at the Singapore Grand Prix. Nelson Piquet Jr. deliberately crashed to trigger a safety car, benefiting teammate Fernando Alonso. This strategy allowed Alonso to pit early and secure a win, while Felipe Massa, who led the race, lost due to an ill-timed pit stop. Meanwhile, Lewis bagged the podium in the race, which later benefitted him in winning the title by just one point.

Importantly, Guerra makes a concerted effort to clarify that Massa’s recognition should not detract from the merit of Lewis Hamilton’s performance. He added, “It should be noted, however, that such a position does not in any way detract from the driver Lewis Hamilton, who carried out his activity competently.”

The Brazilian Federation President underscores the potential positive implications of recognizing Massa as the 2008 champion, envisioning it as a source of inspiration for budding Brazilian racers in karting and single-seater categories like Formula 4. In his view, it would also serve as a long-awaited act of justice.

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