Felipe Massa, the President of the FIA Drivers’ Commission, has taken legal action against the FIA, Formula One Management (FOM), and Bernie Ecclestone regarding the ‘Crashgate’ scandal that occurred during the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. Massa, a former Ferrari racer, narrowly missed out on winning the 2008 F1 Drivers’ World Championship, losing by just one point to Lewis Hamilton. He is now seeking to have the result of the race in Singapore voided, which would have changed the outcome of the championship. During the race, it was discovered that certain individuals had planned for Nelson Piquet Jr to deliberately crash in order to cause a Safety Car situation. Massa was expected to win the race but a pit stop error resulted in him failing to score points, while Hamilton finished in second place. 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 to the investigation last October. Now, Massa’s legal team has confirmed that a lawsuit has been filed against the relevant parties in the London High Court. The lawsuit accuses the FIA of breaching its regulations by failing to promptly investigate Piquet Jr’s crash and claims that if the FIA had acted properly, Massa would have won the Drivers’ Championship that year. Massa is also seeking damages for the financial loss he has suffered as a result of the FIA’s failure, with Ecclestone and FOM being implicated as well. 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 suggesting that FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem played a role in overturning a penalty imposed on Alonso during the previous season. Alonso lost a podium finish 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 whistleblower has claimed that Ben Sulayem attempted to prevent the Las Vegas Strip Circuit from being approved 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 required to restore the credibility and long-term future of the sport.
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