September 28, 2008 was set to be a big day for them Formula 1. The Maximum contested Grand Prix No. 800 and on the first night: Singapore, unprecedented space, the chosen one. However, the crash gate left one of the great stains of all history. Fernando Alonso, Nelsinho Piquet and Renault were largely responsible for one of the most embarrassing days of all ages.

At that time, Renault was no longer what it used to be and was far from the top positions. Ferrari dominated with Philip Massa and entered this race with a one-point lead over Lewis Hamilton. What happened in Asia ruined the championship for the Brazilian and the World Cup would remain in the hands of the British.

What happened at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix?

In Saturday’s classic qualifying, Felipe Massa took pole position at the Marina Bay road circuit. Fernando Alonso was unable to make it to Q2 due to mechanical failure and started 15th. His teammate, Nelsinho Piquet, was 16th.

The first laps followed the normal course, with Massa in front and the two Renaults behind. On lap 12, much earlier than expected, Alonso pitted. The strategy was dubious. But he hit the target when, on lap 13, Nelsinho (he had returned to the formation) crashed at turn 17. This forced the safety car to come up.

Back then the safety car was not allowed to enter the pits on the track and the stops included a fuel report. This benefited Alonso, who cut all the losses: I was last but close to the single seater train.

When the pit lane opened, Massa went in and nothing went as he expected: he accelerated with a dangling pipe and dragged a mechanic. This would result in a change: they would no longer be fueling matches. Lap 18 had Nico Rosberg in front, followed by Jarno Trulli and Giancarlo Fisichella.

Alonso, the only one up front to stop, was fifth. He inherited the lead on lap 38 (of 61) and never relinquished it. That day was celebrated in a big way. The team won again after a two-year drought.

Nelsinho Pique’s very serious complaint

In 2009, after being replaced by Romain Grosjean, Nelsinho Piquet opened his mouth and assured that this accident was not an accident. The Brazilian driver complained to the FIA ​​that the team forced him to perform the maneuver in question.

Before the match, Flavio Briatore (group manager) and pat symonds (engineer) told him he must crash after the Spaniard stopped. And that’s what he did. The FIA ​​upheld the complaint and sanctioned the parties: Renault will be banned from F1 for two years, Briatore will be banned for life and Symonds for 5 years.

These resolutions came to (almost) nothing. The French team continued in the World Cup and Briatore was pardoned and in 2022 was announced as a Formula 1 ambassador. Simmonds, meanwhile, in 2011 was a consultant to Marussia F1 and then held the position of team manager. Today he is a television analyst.