According to a court document filed by Massa’s representatives, his alleged financial losses from narrowly missing out on the F1 Title total £64 million ($82 million), plus interest. This amount encompasses the salary disparity for the rest of his career, potential earnings from sponsorships and commercial ventures, and a £1.7 million bonus he would have received from Ferrari.
Massa expressed his determination to fight until the end, stating that since the FIA and FOM chose not to take any action, legal action is necessary to correct this historical injustice. He emphasized that the matter is now in the hands of his lawyers, who have full authority to take all necessary steps to ensure justice is served for the sport.
When contacted by Reuters, the Formula One Management (FOM) and the International Automobile Federation, based in Paris, declined to comment on the legal action.
In 2008, the F1 Title was awarded to Lewis Hamilton of Britain, who was racing for McLaren at the time and has since become a seven-time F1 champion with Mercedes.
Reuters was unable to immediately locate any record of Massa’s lawsuit in the court’s electronic system. However, court documents provided by Massa’s representatives confirm that the lawsuit was filed on Monday.
42-year-old Massa is demanding that the FIA acknowledge its violation of its own regulations by failing to promptly investigate an accident during the Singapore Grand Prix, which later became one of the most significant scandals in the sport’s history.
The Brazilian driver drew attention to a statement made by Ecclestone in an interview with the German website F1 Insider. In the quote, Ecclestone expresses his belief that Massa should have been crowned World Champion and that he was unfairly denied the title he deserved. Ecclestone, who is now 93 years old, also mentioned that there was insufficient information at the time to thoroughly investigate the matter and cancel the Singapore race. Last August, when questioned by Reuters, Ecclestone claimed not to remember making the statements cited. The Brazilian law firm Vieira Rezende Advogados released a statement expressing their unsuccessful attempts to resolve the issue amicably, leading them to seek legal action. Recent events surrounding this controversy highlight the ongoing importance of transparency and integrity in Formula One. It is clear that significant efforts are needed to restore the credibility of the sport and ensure its future.
During the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, Massa, who had started on pole position, was leading the race when his compatriot Nelson Piquet Jr. crashed into the wall on lap 14 of 61. This incident led to the entry of the safety car, which ultimately benefited Piquet’s teammate, Fernando Alonso, who went on to win the race. Unfortunately for Massa, a mishap during a pit stop prevented him from scoring points. In 2009, Piquet revealed that he had been instructed by team bosses to crash on purpose, resulting in their subsequent ban from the sport.
It is worth noting that Hamilton won the 2008 F1 Title over Massa by overtaking Timo Glock, from Toyota, and securing fifth place on the last lap of the last race of the season in Brazil. Although Massa emerged victorious in this race, it was not enough to secure the championship. After the 2008 season, Massa did not achieve any more victories, and his career was marked by a serious head injury suffered during the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix. He eventually retired from racing in 2017. (Reporting by Alan Baldwin and Sam Tobin)
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The sports world is in shock with the latest news about the famous football player, Cristiano Ronaldo. The athlete was caught at a night party in the city of Lisbon, Portugal. The images show Ronaldo having fun and dancing with friends at an exclusive club. This news comes shortly after the player was criticized for his recent performance on the field.
Fans of the player are divided on this situation. Some believe that Ronaldo has the right to enjoy his personal life and relax after games. However, others are disappointed with his behavior and question his commitment to the sport.
Furthermore, this controversy raises questions about the responsibility of athletes as role models for young people. Many young people admire and look up to players like Ronaldo, and this type of behavior can negatively influence them.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo’s team coach, José Mourinho, has not yet commented on the matter. It is expected that he will make a statement soon to clarify the situation and discuss the consequences for the player.
This news will certainly have a significant impact on Cristiano Ronaldo’s career. It remains to be seen how he will deal with the criticisms and if he will be able to recover from this episode. Stay tuned for further updates to get more information on this ongoing case.
