Felipe Massa (BRA) FIA Drivers’ Commission President. 18.03.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Qualifying Day. – www.xpbimages.com, EMail: [email protected] © Copyright: Rew / XPB Images
Felipe Massa’s legal team has granted an extension to the FIA and FOM to conclude their internal investigation into the outcome of the 2008 Formula One World Championship.
Massa lost out on the 2008 title to Lewis Hamilton by just one point, but the Brazilian and his legal team claim that he was the victim of a “conspiracy” which cost him the championship.
During the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, Renault’s Nelson Piquet Jr crashed, bringing out a Safety Car which handed a victory to team-mate Fernando Alonso.
It was later found that Piquet had crashed deliberately and it is alleged that former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone and then FIA president Max Mosley were involved in a cover-up which cost the Brazilian an F1 title and “tens of millions of euros” in missed income and reputational harm.
Massa’s legal team had initially set a 12 October deadline for the FIA and FOM to respond to queries or face the UK High Court.
A one-month extension has been afforded to both parties as internal investigations are completed.
“FIA and FOM are completing an internal investigation and have requested one last extension to the deadline they initially asked for, from 12 October to 15 November,” Massa’s lawyer Bernardo Viana said.
“We have agreed to this final period because if the new administration is indeed looking into the matter in good faith, they will certainly reach the same conclusion we and so many people around the world have.
“We would like to know what Formula 1’s new leadership’s position is on the recently disclosed scandal and the injustice faced by Felipe Massa.”
Nelson Piquet Jr (BRA) (Left) and Felipe Massa (BRA) FIA Drivers’ Commission President (Right). 07.05.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 5, Miami Grand Prix, Miami, Florida, USA, Race Day. – www.xpbimages.com, EMail: [email protected] © Copyright: Batchelor / XPB Images
Speaking at a Stock Car Series round in Buenos Aires last weekend, Massa reiterated his hope for help from Ferrari in the matter.
“To be honest, we spoke in the letters on the legal side, but I don’t see the point why Ferrari would not be on my side,” he told Motorsport.com’s Brazilian sister site.
“Because we lost the championship, they took away the championship from us, from me and from Ferrari. When you hear Toto Wolff speaking about 2021, Ferrari needs to do the same.
“Ferrari needs to fight for the best of the team and I don’t see really Ferrari away from the manipulation which happened to me.
“For the moment, they didn’t really say, ‘Okay, we are together’. I think they are waiting to see what’s going to happen.”
Keyword: FIA, F1 granted extension by Massa’s legal team for ‘internal investigation’