Felipe Massa is serious, and the legal battle to get his back title of 2008 is ready to come to life. The former Ferrari driver lost the title - which later went to Lewis Hamilton in the McLaren - by just one point. However, the Brazilian could have won if it hadn't been for thescandal episode of the Singapore Grand Prix, which the FIA and F1 were aware of. One of the most controversial episodes in the history of Formula 1, which was challenged by Massa and his lawyers to claim the world title.
The crime
Singapore Grand Prix, 2008. We are on lap fourteen. Massa is in the lead, and is the favorite to win, when Nelson Piquet Jr crashes into the barriers, it turns out, by Renault's will. The accident requires the Safety Car to come out. An error by the Ferrari mechanics during the pit stop gave the victory to Fernando Alonso, Piquet Jr.'s teammate. The case was suspicious, but the season continued and the world championship was awarded to Lewis Hamilton. The turning point came in 2009. After the testimonies of Piquet and Symonds, and the FIA investigations into the crashgate, Renault is forced to pay a penalty. Disqualifications abounded and the matter continued for the following year as well.
The reopening of the case
The matter was closed in 2010. However new information on crashgate provided by former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone at the beginning of 2023 has led Felipe Massa to take legal action and to push to reopen the case. In fact, it turns out that the FIA and F1 had information on the crashgate even before the end of the championship. And this could have changed the fate of the World Cup. La battle di Massa, therefore moves on these latest declarations and is ready to enter the court.
Massa and the letter of complaint
According to the latest rumors coming from Reuters the lawyers of the former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa have started legal action against F1 and the FIA for the alleged conspiracy that saw him denied the 2008 Drivers' Championship. In particular Massa's team would have sent a Letter of Complaint to the FIA and to the FOM, which explains the details of the case. As reported Motorsport.com Massa's defense claims that the Brazilian was "the victim of a conspiracy", and that the FIA and FOM, despite being aware of the details of the case before the end of the championship, deliberately failed to take action.
Overall, therefore, the 2008 World Cup deprived Massa not only of the title but also of tens of millions of euros in lost earnings and bonuses.
"In short words, Mr Massa is the rightful drivers' champion of 2008, and F1 and the FIA have deliberately ignored the misconduct which stripped him of that title.", we read in the letter, which continues. “Mr Massa is unable to fully quantify his losses at this stage, but estimates that they could exceed tens of millions of euros. This amount does not cover the serious moral and reputational losses suffered by Mr Massa." The letter also mentions a legal provision ready to go if a response does not arrive within 2 weeks.
However, the path taken by Massa and his lawyers is full of obstacles. As well as having to realistically prove and contest what happened 15 years ago, he will have to deal with the bureaucracy of the FIA's International Sporting Code and a rather complex judicial system.
Statement source: Motorsport.com
