Piquet Jr crashed just two laps after his team-mate Fernando Alonso, who was short-fuelled by Renault as they gambled on a Safety Car, stopped for fuel. The ensuing Safety Car situation saw Alonso leap up the order and he eventually went on to win the race.

And although at the time Piquet's crash seemed fortuitous for Alonso, TV Globo reporter Reginaldo Leme claims Massa immediately suspected foul play and confronted Renault team boss Briatore.