Former Ferrari Formula 1 driver Felipe Massa has begun legal proceedings against the sports governing body the FIA, as well as Formula One Management over the infamous 2008 ‘Crashgate’ scandal.
Following the news late last year that Felipe Massa had intended to pursue legal action against the FIA and FOM, the former Ferrari drivers’ legal team have today issued a statement confirming a lawsuit had been filed. The subject of the lawsuit is the result of the infamous 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, following which Massa argues the FIA failed to act properly, thus costing him the world championship.
Massa is said to be seeking confirmation from the FIA and FOM that he would have won the 2008 drivers’ championship had Nelson Piquet Jnr’s suspicious lap 14 crash been investigated at the time. With an official investigation into the controversial race not taking place until 2009 when details of Piquet Jnr’s intentional crash became public, no changes were made to the result of the race as the championship had concluded.
“Mr Massa is seeking declarations that the FIA breached its regulations by failing to promptly investigate Nelson Piquet Junior’s crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.
“Attempts to find an amicable resolution have been unsuccessful, leaving Mr Massa with no choice but to initiate legal proceedings.”
Massa argues that comments made by former F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone, who is also named as a subject in the suit, suggest that the FIA were aware of the plan to manipulate the Grand Prix shortly after the Singapore Grand Prix weekend, allowing adequate time to conduct an official investigation.
“As Mr Ecclestone has admitted, there was “enough information in time to investigate the matter” in 2008 and “cancel the race in Singapore”.
The Brazilian is reportedly also looking for over 50 million pounds in damages.
The full statement from Massa’s team can be read below:
“On March 11, 2024, Felipe Massa filed a lawsuit in the High Court in London, England against Formula One Management Limited (FOM), Bernard Charles Ecclestone, and the Federation Internationale de L’Automobile (FIA).
“Mr Massa is seeking declarations that the FIA breached its regulations by failing to promptly investigate Nelson Piquet Junior’s crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, and that had it acted properly, Mr Massa would have won the drivers’ championship that year. Mr Massa also seeks damages for the significant financial loss he has suffered due to the FIA’s failure, in which Mr Ecclestone and FOM were also complicit.
“As Mr Ecclestone has admitted, there was “enough information in time to investigate the matter” in 2008 and “cancel the race in Singapore”. Mr Ecclestone further affirmed that, had the results of the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix been canceled, “Felipe Massa would have become world champion” and that Mr. Massa “was cheated out of the title he deserved.
“Attempts to find an amicable resolution have been unsuccessful, leaving Mr Massa with no choice but to initiate legal proceedings.
“Recent events naturally demonstrate that issues of transparency and integrity in Formula One remain relevant, and it is clear that serious work is needed to restore its credibility and long-term future.
“Although the FIA investigation in 2009 concluded that it had “never before considered charges as serious”, even after the revelations brought forward last year, the results of the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix still stand and remain officially sanctioned by the FIA.
“Felipe Massa is represented in England by barristers Nick de Marco KC and Kendrah Potts, instructed by Richard Levett and Daniel Levy (Enyo Law LLP). The full team also includes Bernardo Viana (Vieira Rezende Advogados), Antonio J. Perez-Marques (Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP), Michele Bernasconi (Bär & Karrer), and Olivier Loizon (Gide Loyrette Nouel).”
