(L to R): Felipe Massa (BRA) FIA Drivers’ Commission President with Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP) Ferrari in Sprint parc ferme. 12.11.2022. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 21, Brazilian Grand Prix, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sprint Day. – www.xpbimages.com, EMail: [email protected] © Copyright: Batchelor / XPB Images
Felipe Massa is expecting support from his former employer Ferrari as he seeks to legally overturn the result of the 2008 Formula 1 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.
The Brazilian’s case focuses on the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix ‘Crashgate’ controversy where Renault’s Nelso Piquet Jr crashed out of the race deliberately to deploy a Safety Car, helping team-mate Fernando Alonso to victory – a race Massa was likely to win.
Massa has been spurred on by comments made by former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone earlier this year, where the 92-year-old revealed that he and the former FIA president were aware of details of Renault’s wrongdoing, but chose not to act to prevent the sport from a scandal.
“I have one certainty: that title is mine and it is Ferrari’s 16th drivers’ title,” Massa said in an update to Italian broadcaster TG1TV.
“I have hired a team of very strong lawyers. We will fight to the end to obtain justice in this sport. I don’t understand why a case of manipulation cannot be verified in the way right, even if a year, two years or 15 years later.”
Circuit atmosphere – A banner in support of Felipe Massa (BRA) and his bid to claim the 2008 F1 World Championship crown. 31.08.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 15, Italian Grand Prix, Monza, Italy, Preparation Day. – www.xpbimages.com, EMail: [email protected] © Copyright: Batchelor / XPB Images
The 42-year-old’s comments imply that he is seeking more than just financial remuneration as he expects Ferrari’s help to claim a 16th Drivers’ Championship for the Scuderia. Should the outcome of the 2008 championship be overturned, Massa would become Ferrari’s most recent F1 World Champion.
“At this moment I have not yet had the support of Ferrari, but I expect help from them. I am optimistic: I will fight for the justice until the end,” he added.
The former Ferrari driver escalated his legal challenge against F1 bosses and the FIA in August when his team sent a Letter Before Claim to F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
Massa received an unsatisfactory response from F1 representatives, who said it was impossible to provide a formal response over the summer break when key figures were away from work.
His team have now responded, saying that a months-long delay is unreasonable, and are understood to have set a September 8 deadline for the relevant parties to deal with the matter satisfactorily.
If the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix was to be nullified, Massa would have won the title by five points.
Keyword: Massa expecting Ferrari help in legal bid to overturn 2008 F1 title