Massa feels `robbed` of F1 world title by Piquet’s crash

Felipe Massa feels the 2008 Singapore GP result on the grounds that Renault driver Nelson Piquet Junior’s deliberately crashed and allowed teammate Fernando Alonso to win, “robbing” him of glory.

London: Ferrari driver Felipe Massa is of the view that the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix result on the grounds that Renault driver Nelson Piquet Junior’s deliberately crashed and allowed teammate Fernando Alonso to win, “robbing” him of glory.

“All of what happened was robbery - but regarding the race nothing has happened, the result remains the same. This is not right,” Massa said. Alonso, who started from 15th place on the grid, won the race after the safety car came out following Piquet’s crash. Alonso had already pitted and was left at the front once the safety car period ended. Piquet, sacked by Renault in August, then revealed that team chief Flavio Briatore and chief engineer Pat Symonds ordered him to crash.Last month Briatore and Symonds both quit as the team announced they would not contest the allegations. Renault were handed a suspended ban at a hearing in Paris while Briatore was banned from the sport for life.But the result of the race remains unchanged and that means Massa has to reflect on how he lost out in the driver’s standings to eventual champion Lewis Hamilton by a solitary point. Hamilton finished in third place in the race while Massa, who had started on pole came home in 13th. ANI