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Felipe Massa, the President of the FIA Drivers’ Commission, has taken legal action against the FIA, Formula One Management (FOM), and Bernie Ecclestone in relation to the ‘Crashgate’ scandal that occurred during the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. Massa, a former Ferrari driver, narrowly missed out on the 2008 F1 World Drivers’ Championship, losing by just one point to Lewis Hamilton. Now, he seeks to overturn the result of the Singapore race, which would have changed the championship outcome. During the race, it was discovered that certain individuals planned for Nelson Piquet Jr. to crash deliberately to cause a Safety Car situation. Massa was expected to win the race, but a mistake in the pit stop caused him to not score points, while Hamilton finished second. Massa’s decision to take legal action was prompted by an alleged interview in which Ecclestone claimed there was evidence to investigate the race. Although Ecclestone later denied making such a statement, Massa’s representatives announced an extension of the investigation last October. Now, Massa’s legal team has confirmed that a lawsuit has been filed against the relevant parties in the High Court of London. The lawsuit accuses the FIA of violating its regulations by failing to promptly investigate Piquet Jr.’s crash and alleges that if the FIA had acted correctly, Massa would have won the Drivers’ Championship that year. Massa is also seeking compensation for the financial loss he suffered as a result of the FIA’s failure, with Ecclestone and FOM also implicated. Attempts to reach a resolution outside of court have been unsuccessful, leading Massa to initiate legal proceedings. These developments come at a time when allegations have emerged that FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem played a role in overturning a penalty imposed on Alonso during the previous season. Alonso lost a podium at the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix due to allegations that Aston Martin had made contact with his car during a pit stop. Additionally, the same informant claimed that Ben Sulayem tried to prevent the approval of the Las Vegas Strip Circuit to host its first race. The statement released by Massa’s legal team highlights the need for transparency and integrity in Formula 1, stating that serious efforts are needed to restore the credibility and long-term future of the sport.
