Felipe Massa has started authorized proceedings versus the FIA and Components Just one Administration above the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.

Attorneys symbolizing the Ferrari driver named the two organisations, moreover previous F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone, as the topics of his circumstance.

Massa is searching for affirmation from the FIA that he would have received the 2008 environment championship experienced the governing human body investigated a suspicious crash in that year’s Singapore Grand Prix far more instantly.

The arrangement guiding Nelson Piquet Jnr’s crash on the 14th lap of the race arrived to mild the pursuing calendar year. The Renault driver experienced agreed to crash his motor vehicle on goal in purchase to trigger a Basic safety Motor vehicle interval which his crew mate, Fernando Alonso, would advantage from. The approach labored and Alonso received the race.

Massa thinks he need to have received 2008 titleMassa’s failure to rating in the race, thanks to a botched pit prevent which occured all through the subsequent Basic safety Motor vehicle interval, was a setback for his hopes of profitable the championship. At the time finale 3 spherical afterwards he missing the title to Lewis Hamilton

The facts of the approach arrived to mild all through 2009. No alterations have been manufactured to the race final result as the 2008 championship experienced previously concluded.

Nevertheless pursuing opinions manufactured by Ecclestone final calendar year, Massa thinks the FIA realized about the plot early plenty of to just take motion. He promises the final result of the race need to have been cancelled, building him winner.

Attribute: Crashgate – The 2008 Singapore Grand prix controversy explainedMassa’s reps said: “Attempts to uncover an amicable resolution have been unsuccessful, leaving Mr. Massa with no alternative but to initiate authorized proceedings.”

Several of the prime team at the FIA have moved on the in fifteen yrs given that the race took put. Present-day president Mohamed Ben Sulayem, who was elected in 2021, is experiencing thoughts above alleged interference in a race final calendar year.

The assertion additional: “Recent activities in a natural way exhibit that difficulties of transparency and integrity in Components one stay applicable, and it is apparent that really serious get the job done is desired to restore its reliability and prolonged-expression long term.”

Assertion from Massa’s attorneys

On March eleven, 2024, Felipe Massa submitted a lawsuit in the Significant Court docket in London, England versus Components Just one Administration Constrained (FOM), Bernard Charles Ecclestone, and the Federation Internationale de L’Automobile (FIA).

Mr Massa is searching for declarations that the FIA breached its restrictions by failing to instantly look into Nelson Piquet Junior’s crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, and that experienced it acted appropriately, Mr Massa would have received the drivers’ championship that calendar year. Mr Massa also seeks damages for the substantial fiscal decline he has experienced thanks to the FIA’s failure, in which Mr Ecclestone and FOM have been also complicit.

As Mr Ecclestone has admitted, there was “enough information and facts in time to look into the matter” in 2008 and “cancel the race in Singapore”. Mr Ecclestone more affirmed that, experienced the final results of the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix been canceled, “Felipe Massa would have come to be environment champion” and that Mr. Massa “was cheated out of the title he deserved.

Makes an attempt to uncover an amicable resolution have been unsuccessful, leaving Mr Massa with no alternative but to initiate authorized proceedings.

Modern activities in a natural way exhibit that difficulties of transparency and integrity in Components Just one stay applicable, and it is apparent that really serious get the job done is desired to restore its reliability and prolonged-expression long term.

Though the FIA investigation in 2009 concluded that it experienced “never in advance of thought of rates as serious”, even following the revelations introduced ahead final calendar year, the final results of the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix nevertheless stand and stay formally 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 Legislation LLP). The comprehensive crew also incorporates Bernardo Viana (Vieira Rezende Advogados), Antonio J. Perez-Marques (Davis Polk &amp Wardwell LLP), Michele Bernasconi (Bär &amp Karrer), and Olivier Loizon (Gide Loyrette Nouel).

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