Massa: Alonso knew about race-fixing

**4me2** · 17th October 2009

Massa: Alonso knew about race-fixing

By Jonathan NobleThursday, October 15th 2009, 07:42 GMT

Felipe Massa says he remains suspicious that Fernando Alonso did know about the deliberate crash plot at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix - but has vowed not to let it affect his future relationship with the Spaniard.
Massa spoke to Brazilian media during a get-together in Sao Paulo on Wednesday and, during the lunch, he said he was in no doubt that Alonso had to have been aware of the plans for Nelson Piquet to crash deliberately in the Singapore event last year to try and help him win.
"In all, he is the least of the problem," Massa was quoted as saying by the Brazilian media about Alonso's involvement in the affair.
"It was the team and Nelson - but Alonso was part of the problem. He knew. We can not know it [but] of course he knew. [It's an] absolute certainty."
The comments created a huge media storm in Brazil ahead of this weekend's grand prix, and Massa and Ferrari moved to clarify the remarks in a statement issued on the Maranello team's official website on Wednesday evening.
In it, Massa said that his comments relate to a feeling he has rather than being based on facts, and he totally respects the FIA's findings from its investigations that Alonso was not aware of the crash plot.
"What I've said is the outcome of a hunch I've had and is not based on any concrete evidence," Massa said in his statement. "The FIA World Council announced that there was no indication that Fernando may have been informed of what had happened and I respect this outcome.
"Obviously I'm very disappointed about what transpired last year in Singapore: I have already said several times what I thought about it and now it's time to close that chapter and to look to the future.
"What is certain is that this episode will not mar in any way the relationship I'll have with Fernando when we will be team-mates."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/79435

**blaggard** · 17th October 2009

Of course he did!!

**GTI** · 17th October 2009

Seems like the litte runt is now backtracking

Felipe Massa: 'No indication' Fernando Alonso knew of Singapore crash conspiracy

Felipe Massa has backtracked on comments made about Fernando Alonso after they were understood to mean that his future Ferrari team-mate knew all along about the Singapore race-fixing scandal.

By Telegraph staff and agencies
Published: 12:43PM BST 15 Oct 2009

Looking ahead: Felipe Massa has cleared up any potential misunderstanding with new Ferrari team-mate Fernando Alonso Photo: AP

It is hardly an auspicious start ahead of their relationship, with Alonso recently signing a three-year deal from 2010 with Ferrari, replacing the departing Kimi Raikkonen.
In a briefing with Brazilian media, Massa reportedly gave the impression that Alonso was aware of the plot that culminated in Nelson Piquet Jnr deliberately crashing his Renault in last year's Singapore Grand Prix, helping the Spaniard to claim a remarkable victory.

"It was the team and Nelson, but Alonso was part of the problem," Massa is quoted as saying.
Alonso has long maintained he was completely unaware of any plan and was cleared by the FIA, who handed Renault a suspended two-year lifetime ban from Formula 1 following a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council.
The incident resulted in Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds resigning from their positions as team principal and executive director of engineering respectively.
In return for his testimony, Piquet Jnr was granted immunity from prosecution.
Massa's alleged comments, however, naturally sparked a storm in his native Brazil ahead of Sunday's grand prix at Interlagos where he will wave the chequered flag.
Within hours Massa attempted to play down and clarify his words via a statement on Ferrari's website.
"What I've said is not based on any concrete evidence," said Massa, who has previously stated he would have been world champion but for the crash.
"The FIA World Council announced that there was no indication that Fernando may have been informed of what had happened and I respect this outcome.
"Obviously I'm very disappointed about what transpired last year in Singapore.
"I have already said several times what I thought about it and now it's time to close that chapter and to look to the future.
"What is certain is that this episode will not mar in any way the relationship I'll have with Fernando when we will be team-mates."

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