Ex-Ferrari driver Felipe Massa is taking legal action and suing Formula 1, the FIA and Bernie Ecclestone over the postponed 2008 World Cup.
Felipe Massa is now at full throttle again – in court! The Brazilian has filed a lawsuit at the London High Court in Great Britain. His goal: justice for the 2008 World Cup final lost to Lewis Hamilton.
The lawsuit is specifically directed against Formula One Management (FOM), the International Automobile Association FIA and the former chief promoter Bernie Ecclestone. Massa wants to be awarded the 2008 World Cup title after all – and compensation of 75 million euros.
“I always said I would fight until the end. Since the FIA and FOM have decided not to take any action, we will try to correct this historical injustice in court,” Massa is quoted as saying. “The matter is now with the lawyers and they have full authority to do whatever is necessary to ensure justice is done for the sport.”
A statement from the Brazilian law firm Vieira Rezende Advogados said: “Mr Massa requests a declaration that the FIA violated its regulations by reporting the accident of Nelson Piquet Jr. did not promptly investigate the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix and that had Mr Massa acted properly he would have won the Drivers’ Championship that year.”
Massa wants compensation for the Crashgate scandal
Felipe Massa. Credit: Ferrari
The lawyers continue: “Mr Massa also claims damages for the significant financial loss he suffered as a result of the failure of the FIA, for which Mr Ecclestone and the FOM were also complicit. Attempts to reach an amicable settlement were unsuccessful, leaving Mr Massa with no choice but to take legal action.”
Background: In 2008, Renault driver Nelson Piquet drove into the wall in Singapore on purpose and on the instructions of his team boss Flavio Briatore in order to help his teammate Fernando Alonso win. The plan succeeded – and disadvantaged Massa, who fell out of the points from first place after a mistake by his pit crew during the enforced safety car phase.
The problem: If those responsible at the FIA had known about the intentional influence on the race before the end of the World Championship, they would have had to act in accordance with their own statutes. The only possible consequence: cancel the race result. Alone: Then Felipe Massa would be world champion – and not Lewis Hamilton.
But the FIA and FOM did nothing, even though they learned about the Singapore scandal in good time. But they didn’t want to harm the sport. Ecclestone revealed this in an interview with F1-Insider.com at the beginning of 2023.
Ecclestone: “We had enough information in time to investigate the matter. According to the statutes, we would probably have had to cancel the race in Singapore under these conditions. That means it would never have taken place for the World Cup standings. Then Felipe Massa would have become world champion and not Lewis Hamilton.”
The Brazilian wants to help his luck afterwards.
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Formula 1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia
Result
1. Max Verstappen (Netherlands) – Red Bull 1:20:43.273 hours.
2. Sergio Perez (Mexiko) – Red Bull +13,643 Sek.
3. Charles Leclerc (Monaco) – Ferrari +18,639
4. Oscar Piastri (Australia) – McLaren +32.007
5. Fernando Alonso (Spanish) – Aston Martin +35,759
6. George Russell (Great Britain) – Mercedes +39,936
7. Oliver Bearman (Great Britain) – Ferrari +42,679
8. Lando Norris (Great Britain) – McLaren +45,708
9. Lewis Hamilton (Great Britain) – Mercedes +47,391
10. Nico Hülkenberg (Emmerich) – Haas +1:16.996 min.
Driver standings
Standing after 2 of 24 races
1. Max Verstappen (Netherlands) – Red Bull 51 pts.
2. Sergio Perez (Mexico) – Red Bull 36
3. Charles Leclerc (Monaco) – Ferrari 28
4. George Russell (Great Britain) – Mercedes 18
5. Oscar Piastri (Australia) – McLaren 16
6. Carlos Sainz Jr. (Spanish) – Ferrari 15
7. Fernando Alonso (Spanish) – Aston Martin 12
8. Lando Norris (Great Britain) – McLaren 12
9. Lewis Hamilton (Great Britain) – Mercedes 8
10. Oliver Bearman (Great Britain) – Ferrari 6
11. Nico Hülkenberg (Emmerich) – Haas 1
12. Lance Stroll (Kanada) – Aston Martin 1
Constructors’ Championship
1. Red Bull 87 Pkt.
2. Ferrari 49
3. McLaren 28
4. Mercedes 26
5. Aston Martin 13
6. Haas 1
7. Williams 0
8. Sauber 0
9. Racing Bulls 0
10. Alpine 0