15 years ago, Ferrari told Massa that Alonso was faster than him

Fifteen years ago today, Formula 1 fans witnessed one of the most memorable team communications in the sport's history during the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim.

Felipe Massa, starting third, had executed a brilliant start to overtake both Ferrari teammate Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel from the front row and was leading the race. The Brazilian controlled the early stages on soft tires, but after the pit stops for the harder compound, Alonso had the superior pace.

However, the Spaniard couldn't find a way past his teammate in the final season before the introduction of DRS. With team orders also banned in 2010, teams had to be creative in instructing their drivers.

Ferrari displayed this "creativity" on lap 42 at Hockenheim. Rob Smedley came over the radio to Massa and told him that Alonso was faster.

Massa didn't reply but, coincidentally or not, slowed on the exit of the hairpin a lap later, letting Alonso through before accelerating again. This maneuver allowed the Spaniard to win, with Massa finishing second. The incident sparked outrage amongst fans, and Ferrari were investigated for manipulating the race result.

The Scuderia was ultimately fined $100,000, and the "Hockenheim incident" led to the lifting of the team orders ban for the start of the 2011 season. Alonso finished the 2010 season four points behind Vettel in the championship battle, despite the extra seven points gained thanks to his teammate in Germany. For Massa, the 2010 Hockenheim race remains the last in which he had a realistic chance of fighting for his 12th Formula 1 victory, which would have been his first since his horrific accident in Hungary a year earlier.