Felipe Massa is exploring legal options to challenge the 2008 Formula 1 world driver's championship outcome after former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone's bombshell comments. Massa lost the title by one point to Lewis Hamilton in the season's final race. The controversy began in Singapore when Nelson Piquet deliberately crashed his Renault to aid teammate Fernando Alonso's championship ambitions. Ecclestone recently stated that F1's top brass knew about the conspiracy during the 2008 season, angering Massa. He is now considering a legal challenge, claiming the Singapore race cost him the title.
Click here to read the full article by Michael Lamonato (Foxsports.com.au)
The third F1 race of 2023 was marked by red flags and restart disputes, resulting in a late finish for stewards. Edd Straw, Mark Hughes, and Scott Mitchell-Malm come together to discuss the controversy and evaluate if F1's current system is effective. Additionally, they cover Mercedes' emergence as Red Bull's primary rival, Alpine's internal meltdown, Aston Martin's temporary collapse, and McLaren's best weekend of the year to date.
Lance Stroll faced a rollercoaster of emotions during the Australian GP, initially feeling "heartbroken" after sliding into the gravel during the late restart. The red flag and FIA's decision to revert to the original grid order for the final lap behind the safety car, however, secured Stroll fourth place at the finish. He acknowledged the cold tires made the restart challenging and expressed gratitude for the outcome.
Click here to read the full article by Adam Cooper (Motorsport.com)
Williams F1 rookie Logan Sargeant apologized for hitting AlphaTauri's Nyck de Vries during the chaotic Australian Grand Prix's second restart. Sargeant avoided a penalty for the clash, which he blamed on his inability to get his tires and brakes up to temperature. The incident left both F1 rookies out of the race. De Vries, who was already out of the points due to an earlier collision with Esteban Ocon, did not blame Sargeant, considering it a racing incident.
Click here to read the full article by Jordan Edwards (Motorsportweek.com).
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko praised Sergio Perez's recovery in the Australian Grand Prix after the driver started from the back of the grid due to a qualifying crash. Despite his challenging starting position, Perez managed to finish P5 and secure the fastest lap. Marko acknowledged Perez's determination and appreciated his ability to make the most out of the race. However, Marko also cautioned that Red Bull's dominance isn't guaranteed, as teams like Ferrari, Aston Martin, and Mercedes continue to make progress.
Click here to read the full article by Rory Mitchell (RacingNews365.com).