Radio broadcast revelation stokes Massa and Hamilton collision controversy
By Matt Beer
Monday, October 3rd 2011, 10:00 GMT
The controversy over Felipe Massa and Lewis Hamilton's collision in the Singapore Grand Prix has taken a fresh twist with the release of new footage from the race.
The official highlights video posted on Formula 1's own website includes a radio message from Massa's engineer Rob Smedley which was not included in the live television broadcast.
In the clip, Smedley is heard to say to Massa: "Hold Hamilton as much as we can. Destroy his race as much as we can. Come on, boy..."
It is not clear from the footage when the message was sent. Hamilton came up behind Massa, who was running fifth, while recovering from a messy first lap, catching him on lap eight. He stayed close behind the Ferrari until they pitted together on lap 11. They then collided on their out-lap, with Hamilton clipping the Ferrari, giving it a puncture and breaking his McLaren's front wing. Hamilton also received a drive-through penalty for the incident.
After the race, Massa confronted Hamilton in the television interview area - sarcastically congratulating him on his race before walking away. The Brazilian was highly critical of Hamilton, who has not commented on the incident in public, and the race day collision followed another row between them that had been prompted by a near-miss in qualifying.
"My thoughts are that, again, I told you yesterday that he cannot use his mind," said Massa after the race.
"Even in qualifying, so you can imagine in the race. He could have caused a big accident. He is paying for that, that's the problem. He doesn't understand, even paying for a problem."
Credit: AUTOSPORT.COM (www.autosport.com)
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