Jean Todt, the former Ferrari boss and past FIA president, has voiced his support for Felipe Massa’s controversial claim to the 2008 world championship title. This comes amidst Massa’s consideration of legal action following revelations about the ‘crashgate’ scandal at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, a move that has seen limited backing from key figures in Formula 1.
Todt, 77, who had just stepped down as Ferrari’s chief at the time of the scandal and was yet to assume his role as FIA president, shared his perspective with Italy’s La Stampa newspaper. Addressing Massa’s quest to replace Lewis Hamilton as the 2008 champion, Todt said, “I don’t get into the controversy. But for him, psychologically, it was very hard. Maybe we could have been tougher when the story came out. There is no doubt that the Singapore GP was rigged and should have been cancelled.”
The Frenchman, whose son Nicholas was Massa’s manager, also spoke on the approaching ten-year anniversary of Michael Schumacher’s tragic skiing accident in December 2013. Reflecting on his relationship with Schumacher, Todt expressed deep affection, “Michael is a friend but I consider him part of my family. I go to see him regularly and in the past we have followed the races on television.”
Todt remained reserved about Schumacher’s health condition, which has been shrouded in a full decade of secrecy. “‘How is he?’ is impossible to find the answer because perhaps the answer does not exist,” he stated. Emphasizing the importance of privacy, he added, “The only thing I will say is that I adore Michael, I adore his family, and it is right to respect their privacy. The relationship with him at first was only professional, then it became more trusting, until it became a great friendship.”
