Massa may ask for compensation but will not be F1 champion

ByDavid Mitchell
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The former Brazilian driver’s lawsuit against the FIA ​​for the 2008 ‘crashgate’ may go to trial but he will not be declared world champion.

The demand of the former Brazilian pilot Felipe Massa against the FIA, Formula One Management and Bernie Ecclestone for him ‘crashgate’ 2008 will be able to go to trial, seeking compensation for damages, but will not be declared world champion, according to a London court.

This court accepted this Thursday that Massa can request compensation for damages, but rejected that he has the right to be declared champion of the 2008 World Cup.

According to judge Justice Day, Massa has a real prospect of proving his case in a trial, but he ruled out that he will receive “declaratory relief” in reference to being proclaimed champion of the title he lost in 2008 to the British Lewis Hamilton by a point of difference.

In a statement, the former Brazilian driver assured that this is a “great day” for him, for justice and for everyone who loves Formula One.

Massa went to a London court a few weeks ago to claim the 2008 Formula One world title, which Hamilton won by one point, and compensation of 73 million euros (about $84 million dollars) for damages caused by the famous ‘crashgate’ of the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, in which then-Renault driver Nelson Piquet Jr crashed, allegedly deliberately, so that he would win. the race his teammate, the Spanish Fernando Alonso.

In that race, the driver from Sao Paulo finished outside the points, despite starting from pole, while Hamilton achieved a third place that was decisive in winning the World Championship three races later in Brazil. The Briton won the first of his seven titles after overtaking Timo Glock in the last corner of the Interlagos circuit.

The 44-year-old former driver alleged that the FIA, Formula One Management and Bernie Ecclestone were aware of the rigging during that championship, but preferred to look the other way so as not to tarnish the sport.

Ecclestone, the FIA ​​and Formula One Management tried during the preliminary hearing to keep the case from going to trial, arguing that a lot of time has passed and that Massa lost the championship due to his mistakes and not due to negligence on the part of the authorities.

The incident, which at the time led to sanctions for Renault, was forgotten until 2023 when Eclestone, the big boss of Formula One until 2017, commented in an interview that the FIA ​​was aware of the rigging during the 2008 season and that it could have changed the course of the championship if it had decided to annul the result of said race.

Since everything had come to light with the World Cup already over, there was no possibility for Massa to claim it as his own, since the regulations of the competition at that time alleged that if the end-of-season prizes had already been awarded, the result could not be altered.

“Massa’s poor performance in that race was not related to the accident and neither was Lewis Hamilton’s great performance, and none of them were aware of Renault’s actions,” Ecclestone’s lawyers defended in court.

Massa alleges that he did not report these events sooner because it was not until Ecclestone’s interview in 2023 that he realized that the authorities had been aware of Renault’s misdeeds.

“It is not an exaggeration to call this one of the most serious incidents related to manipulation in the world of sport, not only because it was an attempt to intervene in the outcome of the race, but because it also threatened the lives of the spectators and the driver,” Massa’s lawyers said.

The lawyers also added that “there was a cover-up of the conspiracy to cause that accident and a cover-up by those with the responsibility of protecting the integrity of the sport, who deliberately conspired together to cover up one of the most serious scandals in the history of sport.”

David Mitchell
David Mitchell

As a passionate sports journalist with over a decade of experience, I strive to uncover the heart and soul behind every game. Supported by a dedicated team of fellow enthusiasts and storytellers, I am committed to delivering insightful and engaging content that connects fans worldwide. Together, we celebrate the victories, challenges, and unifying spirit of sports through every article we craft.