In a dramatic legal development that could rewrite Formula 1 history, former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa has been granted permission to pursue his £64 million claim over the controversial 2008 world championship.
The Legal Breakthrough
A High Court judge in London has ruled that Massa's case against Formula One Management, the FIA, and former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone can proceed to trial. The Brazilian driver claims he was wrongfully denied the 2008 championship, which he lost to Lewis Hamilton by a single point.
Mr Justice Jay delivered the significant ruling on Thursday, stating that while Massa had "no real prospect of establishing that the FIA's duties were owed to him", he did have a genuine chance of proving his case regarding unlawful means conspiracy.
The Crashgate Scandal
The heart of Massa's claim revolves around the infamous 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, now known throughout motorsport as 'Crashgate'. During that race, Renault driver Nelson Piquet Jr deliberately crashed his car under team orders, triggering a safety car period that ultimately destroyed Massa's race strategy.
Massa, who had been leading the race for Ferrari, finished in a disappointing 13th position. The following season, Piquet revealed he had been instructed by his team bosses to crash deliberately to benefit teammate Fernando Alonso.
The controversy deepened in 2023 when Ecclestone, the 95-year-old former F1 chief, suggested that sport executives knew about the deliberate crash before the 2008 championship concluded but failed to investigate properly.
Legal Arguments and Defence
Last month, the defendants had requested the court to dismiss the case, arguing that Massa's claim was brought too late and that his performance in Singapore contributed significantly to his championship loss. They described the legal action as "a misguided attempt to reopen the results" of the 2008 season.
David Quest KC, representing Ecclestone, maintained this position during October's hearing, while John Mehrzad KC for the FIA called Massa's claim "torturous as it is overly ambitious" and noted it "conspicuously overlooks a catalogue of his own errors".
However, Massa's legal team, led by Nick De Marco KC, successfully argued that their client had "a real prospect of succeeding on all of the grounds" and that the matter deserved a full trial.
What the Ruling Means
While the judge dismissed part of Massa's claim regarding declaratory relief, stating it couldn't rewrite the championship outcome, the core conspiracy allegation will proceed. Mr Justice Jay emphasised that declaratory relief would not be granted for reputational reasons and that such a declaration would lack practical utility.
The ruling represents a significant milestone in Massa's long battle for recognition as the rightful 2008 champion. Though the legal victory cannot officially change the record books, a successful trial could have substantial financial and reputational consequences for Formula One's governing bodies.
All parties are now preparing for what promises to be one of the most watched sports litigation cases in recent memory, revisiting one of Formula 1's most controversial chapters.
