Investigation Into Massa's Belgian Grid Start

The FIA has launched an investigation into why Felipe Massa was able to start the Belgian Grand Prix slightly ahead of his grid slot without the error getting picked up at the time.

Amateur video footage that appeared on the Internet in the days after the race showed that Massa came to a stop on the grid slightly in front of where he should have been.

Massa's wrong positioning was in theory a breach of the regulations, but FIA race director Charlie Whiting received no information from the marshals at the track that the Brazilian had stopped in the wrong place - and the electronic systems in place on the grid did not detect it either - in time for a jump start penalty to be imposed.

With rival teams unaware of Massa's error, so not complaining to the FIA, the matter was not looked at in any more detail before the Belgian GP results were made official on Sunday night - which means no further action on the incident could be taken.

However, although Massa escaped punishment for what happened, the FIA has promised to look into why the wrong positioning was not picked up at the time.

"The problem was not brought to the attention of the FIA race director by either the marshals nor the automatic jump start system in time to be able to apply the appropriate penalty for jump starts," said an FIA spokeswoman.

"As no further information or complaints were received before the publication of the official result on Sunday night, the classification of the Belgian Grand Prix will now remain unchanged.

"The FIA are investigating the causes of the apparent failures in communication with race control in order to ensure a repetition is not possible."

 

With rival teams unaware of Massa's error, so not complaining to the FIA, the matter was not looked at in any more detail before the Belgian GP results were made official on Sunday night - which means no further action on the incident could be taken.

 

How did Massa end up starting from outside of his box? That seems very basic and dumb to risk a drive through for 2-3 feet. Ferrari seem to be making a lot of unforced errors this year.

 

Martin Brundle commented on it as Massa pulled up and past the box. I haven't a clue why he wasn't penalized.

 

Remember, Alonso did it last year in the Renault.

I just can not imagine that Massa did this intentionally.

 

I should hope he did not do on purpose.

It seems like Ferrari makes an own goal just about every race. If they were the Italian national Football squad how long would it be before people started getting sacked?

 

Here's a vid of the indecent !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kChqJVjp9U

 

Geeze! Massa just plain screwed up. And why didn't the team tell him to back up? He was sitting there long enough. Sometimes I don't understand the Scuderia.

But I really hope that the FIA doesn't take any action on this. Especially since it sounds like they didn't see it either. And if the teams didn't complain, I say Massa and the team got away with one.

But I have a feeling the FIA will be stupid about this.

Alex

 

Somebody mentioned on another forum that Massa was given permission to start "a few feet" ahead of his starting line due to there being oil on his grid position. I have no idea if this true or not, and since the FIA comments on the matter, it seems to be false. But if you look at this video, there appears to a black marks on the track where Massa's rear wheels "should" be..

 

He should have been penalized as he did pass people on the start but it is too late now.

 

Interesting...and yes I see the marks, but if this was the case, why did none of the broadcasting companies know? Maybe they did let him start ahead, which explains why the teams didn't complain, because it was pretty obvious. I don't see Mclaren letting that go. Usually information like that is given out through race control.

Alex

 

The camera doesn't lie and the rules are specific. It's hard to see how this cannot be ignored.

 

That does not sound correct. He would gain an advantage from that. If anything I would expect them to let him start a few feet behind his box or closer to the edge of the track if that were the case.

 

Exactly, if this was the case, you would think there would off been some kind of media statement during or following the race..

 

I have to agree with you, but i'm only repeating what was said on another forum. If there was oil, lubricant or some other fluid on his start position from a support race, you would expect it to have been treated or cleared up before the F1's came out.

 

Wow the start looks a whole lot faster from that angle

 

The fix is simple. Have naked, lightly oiled pit babes there at the start to bend way down to position each car according to the rules prior to race start.

If I were a F1 driver, and this was in the rules, I'd start Spa somewhere down by Stavelot.

 

Massa f'ed up n got away with one...FIA should have caught it but their incompetence is limitless....

 

Ermm yes nearly half a car over the line.. He got lucky.

 

Drive thru penalty seconds will be added? Say about 20? Anyone else see this coming?

 

IIRC they can't penalize a driver 24h after the result, correct (or was it alter result?)? Unless it has been announced before the 24h are over that it will be looked at on so and so date.

 

I don't think Massa will get penalised. At least not for the Belgian race. Maybe a grid penalty for Italy? But still it seems that they're not out to penalise him but to find out how it could go unnoticed.

For something to be penalised it has to be noticed/brought to attention during the race, not long after (I would assume, but with FIA you never know).

 

I'am pretty sure this happened to Lewis more than 24 hours, more like a week after the event.

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2008/09/07/lewis-hamilton-stripped-of-belgian-gp-win-another-asinine-fia-decision/

There again it was cretin Mosley in charge.

 

[SARCASM]Not a very biased website, is it?[/SARCASM]

Anyway, wasn't Hamilton already under investigation during the race? I think that makes the difference.

 

No, I remember that this decision was made just a few hours after the race.