Massa promoted to seventh
Filed Under: F1 News
Bourdais slammed with 25-second penalty; Massa promoted to seventh, closes gap to Lewis.
Felipe Massa has been promoted to seventh place in Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix following stewards’ decision to reprimand Sebastien Bourdais with a 25-second penalty for his tangle with the Brazilian.
The penalty drops Bourdais from sixth to tenth. Crucially though it promotes Massa to seventh, thereby reducing the Brazilian’s points deficit to championship leader Lewis Hamilton to five. Mark Webber picks up a point for eighth place.
Bourdais collided with Massa on Lap 50 when he rejoined the circuit after his second pitstop just as Massa turned into the first corner.
The two drivers made contact and Bourdais sent Massa into a spin. The Ferrari driver went on to salvage eighth place.
“There’s little to say,” said Massa dismissing the incident. “I had already entered the turn and he hit me from behind, spinning me round.”
However Bourdais was left fuming, adamant that Massa was in the wrong. He told autosport.com:
“For me it’s very clear. Yes, I exit the pits, yes I’m supposed to be careful and I was,” he said. “I stayed inside and I didn’t push him out, I didn’t overshoot the corner.
“I did everything I could not to run into him and he just squeezed and turned and behaved like I didn’t exist, like I wasn’t there. What am I supposed to do?
“I’ve been in this position many, many times and I never had any incidents. It’s just a little bit of respect, you give each other room and then everything goes right, but if you don’t for sure it’s going to be an incident.”
“I’ve been in this position many times, especially the position he is in fighting for championships and you just don’t take unnecessary risks like this,” said Bourdais.
“You’ve got everything to lose and nothing to gain. He was going to pit in three laps, I was ahead of him and he was going to finish behind us anyway. Why would you even think about doing something like that? I don’t understand.”
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Rob Davies | Oct 12, 2008 | Reply
No matter what Ferrari do the FIA are internt on awarding them this years title - Massa finished off Hamilton and gets a drive through for the good of the sport it is time for a change at the top so all teams are on a level playing field not a red one - Ferrari International Assistance !!!!!!!!
Jimbob | Oct 12, 2008 | Reply
Bourdais forgot about the new rule. You are no longer allowed to race against a Ferrari.
Check FIA website in a few days and the 2009 champion will be announced.
/sarcasm
Christopher Hayes | Oct 12, 2008 | Reply
And penalising Hamilton for the start? I’ve seen far worse, and to be frank it is not the first time that Lewis has been aggressive at the start and escaped unpunished.
And what about Schumi’s chopping moves?
Dartanian22 | Oct 13, 2008 | Reply
Penalty for driving on the race track and holding your racing line, Penatly for locking up your breaks when four other cars did the same.. (even Alsonso locked up on the first corner)
Penalty for being in the way of a red car .. penalty for not understanding the rules we just made up a few minutes ago, Penalty not given to the red car for driving across four white lines and directly into the pit excit at 300 plus KM an hour .. PLEASE I CANT TAKE IT ANYMORE just let them race
Colin Campbell | Oct 13, 2008 | Reply
My life and business revolve around Ferrari, I have always been a keen fan of them,today that finishes as I beleive there is a conspiracy. I beleive the incident with Bourdais proves it.