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Massa instructed to "destroy Hamilton's race" in Singapore - Were Ferrari right to push Felipe as far as they did?

Published by Mr. C

Rob Smedley on the radio in Singapore
Rob Smedley on the radio in SingaporeCredit: F1.com

The ever revealing post-race video edits from f1.com have uncovered another gem of radio traffic that occurred during the recent Grand Prix in Singapore. During the three minute clip, Felipe Massa's race engineer Rob Smedley is heard encouraging the Ferrari driver over team radio to deliberately wreck rival Lewis Hamilton's race.

Hold Hamilton as much as we can. Destroy his race as much as we can. C'mon boy.

- Rob Smedley

Although it isn't clear when during the race the radio message was delivered, the audio is played over footage of Massa defending his position from Hamilton, before the two come together. The incident left the Ferrari driver with a rear puncture and the McLaren driver in need of a nose change.

Unsporting behaviour?

At the time, race stewards analysed the accident and handed Hamilton a drive-through penalty. It was the second time during the weekend the two had crossed paths, after frustration during Saturday's qualifying session saw them almost trip over each other.

After the race, a disgruntled Felipe caught up with his rival in the media pen chastising him with a sarcastic remark. Later in the day Massa told journalists "It is important that FIA is looking and penalising him all the time he is going in the car because he cannot think about it".

While it could be that the radio message was sent when the two cars met again on track and Massa's race was already ruined, a request to 'destroy' a competitor's race, whatever the circumstance, must surely be construed as unsporting behaviour.

You can watch the Singapore race edit on f1.com.