Former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa is pursuing a landmark £64 million legal case against Formula 1's governing bodies, a dispute stemming from the controversial 2008 championship decided by a single point.
The Core of the Legal Dispute
Massa's lawsuit, targeting Formula 1, the FIA, and former chief executive Bernie Ecclestone, centres on the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, an event now infamously known as 'Crashgate'. The Brazilian driver contends that the manipulated outcome of that race ultimately cost him the world title.
At the heart of the controversy is Nelson Piquet Jr.'s deliberate crash, which subsequent investigations confirmed was orchestrated to benefit his Renault teammate, Fernando Alonso. Massa, who had started the race from pole position, finished a dismal 13th after a problematic pit stop, while his rival, Lewis Hamilton, secured a third-place finish.
Massa's Stance Towards Hamilton
Despite the championship's outcome being directly reversed, Massa has been unequivocal in stating that his legal fight is not with the driver who beat him. "To be honest, this is not a fight with Lewis," Massa stated in October 2024. "Lewis has nothing to do with this fight. The fight is about what happened in the race, which was not good for the sport."
He emphasises that his battle is with the sport's authorities, arguing that a prompt investigation into the Singapore incident could have altered the championship's result. "The battle is that this race must be cancelled. That's the fight," he clarified.
The Path to Litigation and Recent Developments
The legal action gained momentum in November 2024 after comments from Bernie Ecclestone surfaced. In an interview, Ecclestone implied that both he and then-FIA president Max Mosley were aware of the controversy surrounding the Singapore race at the time but chose not to act.
Massa alleges a conspiracy to obstruct an immediate investigation, telling Formule 1 Magazin, "This is about justice... a race and therefore a championship has been manipulated." He believes his case sets a precedent, stating, "I think it is unique that a driver physically goes to the civil court to take on powerful sports organisations."
The preliminary hearing for this high-stakes case concluded in London last week. After three days of proceedings, Mr Justice Jay announced that the judgment would be reserved for a future date. Ecclestone has publicly dismissed the lawsuit, asserting, "There is no way in the world anyone could change or cancel that race."
Massa is represented by Nick De Marco in this legal endeavour, which continues to cast a long shadow over one of Formula 1's most dramatic championship deciders.
