Massa Battles On to Reclaim 2008 F1 Title in Court

Felipe Massa takes his 2008 F1 title fight to court, determined to challenge the sport’s history and seek long-awaited justice.

If Felipe Massa wins his lawsuit against F1 and Bernie Ecclestone to be crowned the 2008 F1 World Champion, it would strip Lewis Hamilton of the first of his seven titles.

However, the Brazilian insists that his fight is “not against” Hamilton but against a result that was “manipulated.”

On November 2, 2008, Massa was the Formula 1 World Champion for 38 seconds before Hamilton overtook Timo Glock in the final lap to edge the Ferrari driver out of the title by a single point. Despite his obvious disappointment, Massa accepted losing the title.

At least, that was the case until last year, when former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone revealed that he and the FIA were already aware of the Crashgate scandal that year and should have voided the race result.

“According to the statutes, we should have annulled the Singapore Grand Prix under those conditions. That means it would never have counted for the World Championship standings. Felipe Massa would have become World Champion, not Lewis Hamilton.”

Massa is now taking Ecclestone, Formula 1, and the FIA to court to claim his right to the world title. While he admits it will be difficult to overturn the result, he insists it is not impossible.

“This is about justice. That’s what we’re fighting for. In other sports, results have been revised. Not yet in Formula 1, but now there is every reason to do so, because a race—and therefore a championship—was manipulated.”

“Fifteen years after the incident, I’ve heard and understood everything that happened. And then, you can’t just let it go. It was simply unfair. Everyone knows what happened wasn’t right.”

“I think it’s unique for a driver to physically go to civil court to challenge powerful sporting organizations like the FIA and FOM. I also hope to send a message with this and show that everyone is free and strong enough to stand up for their rights.”

If Massa were to succeed, it would mean Hamilton losing his first world title, reducing the Briton’s tally from seven to six world championships.

But the Brazilian is adamant: this is not an attack on Hamilton.

“My fight is not against Lewis, but against a race that was manipulated. And against the conspiracy that followed, which ultimately cost me the world title. All drivers are members of the FIA. The FIA has a moral obligation to treat its members fairly.”

“Can you imagine what it would have been like for me to become world champion in my own country, in Brazil?”

“I will never recover that feeling. Winning the title in front of my own fans at Interlagos would have been something indescribably beautiful, something unforgettable. I will never know that feeling.”

“But justice, the recognition as the official 2008 Formula 1 world champion, is something I must fight for. And I will.”