Zoom Massa believes Renault’s tactics cost him the 2008 championship

Felipe Massa again risked tainting his forthcoming partnership with Fernando Alonso, reiterating that the Spaniard must have known about Nelson Piquet's deliberate crash in Singapore last year.

"Without a doubt he knew it," Massa told a group of journalists in Sao Paulo on Wednesday. “There is no way he couldn't know it. I'm certain.”

Speaking to Spanish news agency EFE, Massa added: "Without a doubt, Fernando knew it. Logically he had to. There is no way he couldn't have."

Italian reports claim that Massa and Alonso have not been in contact since the Spaniard was confirmed as a 2010 Ferrari driver. Later, a statement appeared on Ferrari's official website, playing down Massa's comments that caused "some uproar on the internet".

The Italian team said Massa wanted to clarify his comments. "What I've said is the outcome of a hunch I've had and is not based on any concrete evidence," said Massa, who insisted he respects that the FIA cleared Alonso of any implication in the affair.

"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.”

E.A. © CAPSIS International
Source: GMM