Massa could have won title despite 'Crashgate'

Within the round-up: Felipe Massa may have been the 2008 champion with out the Crashgate scandal, says Nelson Piquet Jnr

In short

Massa may have gained title regardless of ‘Crashgate’ – Piquet Jnr

Nelson Piquet Jnr says the crash he prompted in the course of the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix needn’t have price Felipe Massa the world championship that 12 months.

Massa is searching for authorized motion over the race, which Fernando Alonso gained after Piquet, his Renault staff mate, intentionally crashed with the intention to trigger a Security Automobile interval. Throughout that interval Massa pitted however suffered a botched pit cease which ended his possibilities of scoring any factors.

Lewis Hamilton, who ran second behind his championship rival Massa within the opening levels of the race, completed third. He out-scored Massa by six factors and went on to disclaim him the title by a single level.

Piquet insisted his crash wasn’t finished “to have an effect on an individual immediately – it was a staff order to assist somebody inside our staff.”

“It wasn’t to disturb Felipe,” he advised the Pelas Pistas podcast. “It was nothing like that. We don’t know what occurred, you realize? Felipe may very nicely have gained that race if that hadn’t occurred at the pit cease.”

Kobayashi places #7 Toyota quickest in WEC observe

Kamui Kobayashi set the quickest time within the second observe session forward of this weekend’s Six Hours of Algarve at Autodromo do Algarve in Portugal, placing the quantity seven Toyota of Kobayashi, Mike Conway and Jose Maria Lopez quickest, nearly a full second quicker than Toyota quantity eight staff mates Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa, who had been quickest within the opening session.

The 2 Ferrari 499Ps have been third and fourth, with quantity 50, pushed by Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina and Niklas Nielsen forward of the quantity 51 of Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado and Antonio Giovinazzi. The 2 Peugeots have been break up by the quantity 5 Penske Porsche, with Cadillac, Glickenhaus and the quantity six Porsche finishing the highest ten. The Vanwall hypercar was thirteenth, behind the 2 quickest LMP2 automobiles of Vector Sport and Inter Europol.

Mini quickest as F3 check ends

Gabriele Mini set the quickest general time within the two day FIA Formulation 3 check on the Circuit de Barcelona because the operating got here to an finish.

The Hitech driver’s finest time within the morning session of a 1’26.319 was half a tenth faster than Taylor Barnard, whereas championship chief Gabriel Bortoleto was quickest within the last session within the night, additionally forward of Barnard.

F3 will check once more subsequent week in Imola. The following spherical of the F3 championship additionally takes place on the Imola circuit in the course of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix weekend.

Hyperlinks

Motor racing hyperlinks of curiosity:

Russell: ”I am able to combat” – The Mercedes F1 driver is hungry for extra (Sq. Mile)

“For me, being teammates with Lewis is such a golden alternative. Particularly now that the automotive isn’t performing as we wish, having him as my teammate has saved me in some regard, as a result of if he had retired or left the game once I joined the staff, and we took this step backwards, individuals could be pointing the blame in the direction of me! However I really feel like now I’ve confirmed my value and I’ve confirmed what I’m able to, so there’s no strain in that regard.”

Schumacher’s $9.5 Million F1 Ferrari Is Tip of Helpful Automobile Market (Bloomberg)

“The light-weight land rocket, a Ferrari F1-2000, had introduced the racing staff its first world title in additional than twenty years, and it arrange Schumacher to win 4 extra championships with Ferrari within the following consecutive years. Preliminary estimates valued the automotive at $7.5 million to $9.5 million, a spokesperson for Sotheby’s confirmed — an elite sum that gained’t shock anybody who pays consideration to the obscure world of decommissioned race automobiles.”

Behind the scenes with Pierre Gasly: The Alpine racer on his begin to 2023 (F1)

“I have to say, I’ve loved the 12 months to this point, even when it’s been removed from excellent. Proper now, being in that high 10 combine is the place we’re on outright efficiency. That stated, we undoubtedly have motive to be optimistic after the tempo we confirmed in Australia… extra on that later.”

Craig Breen: 1990-2023 (FIA)

“otor sport has additionally misplaced a real character, a person who introduced a smile to the levels and repair parks of the world, whose enthusiasm touched so many individuals and whose dedication knew no bounds. Smiles have been by no means briefly provide, a cup of tea by no means far-off. Runner-up on Rally Sweden in February, Breen was making ready for subsequent week’s Croatia Rally when he misplaced his life on the age of 33.”

Formulation 1 automobiles return to Donington Park (Donington Park)

“Certainly one of Europe’s greatest celebrations of retro motorsport, the Donington Historic Competition, returns on 29/30 April with a particular assortment of historic F1 machines for the thirtieth anniversary of the 1993 European Grand Prix.”

It’s a seaside get together on the 2023 Acura Grand Prix of Lengthy Seaside (OC Register)

“Starting this 12 months, the Acura Grand Prix of Lengthy Seaside has been dubbed by organizers as ‘Southern California’s 200-mph seaside get together.’ And will probably be arduous to overlook the beachy vibes when you attend the get together this weekend. Those that go to the Grand Prix, which runs Friday to Sunday, April 14-16, will see the seaside theme represented within the concourse’s coloration scheme – brilliant orange, sky blue and sundown yellow.”

Taking Form | Aston Martin F1 Staff New Manufacturing facility Replace 2023 (Aston martin by way of YouTube)

“With our staff because of transfer in subsequent month, take a tour inside our new manufacturing facility with Challenge Supervisor Man Austin, as he showcases the near-complete Constructing One, and the progress on our Wind Tunnel – because of be completed in 2024.”

ACCESS ALL AREAS on the Australian Grand Prix (Purple Bull by way of YouTube)

“Have a look again at our action-packed weekend Down Below, by the eyes of Esports content material creator, Ponden.”

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