Lawyers for the International Automobile Federation (FIA), Formula 1, and former head Bernie Ecclestone have argued in a London court that Brazilian racing driver Felipe Massa is solely responsible for not securing the 2008 championship title, according to a report by Reuters. The defendants’ representatives stated that Massa’s claim that he should have won the season, which he lost to Lewis Hamilton by a single point, is unfounded.
Massa filed a lawsuit in the High Court of London seeking recognition as the 2008 champion and approximately £64 million ($85.9 million) in damages. The case centers on the contentious Singapore Grand Prix, where Massa missed critical points after a crash involving Nelson Piquet Jr., who later admitted the incident was intentional. In 2023, Ecclestone confirmed he and former FIA president Max Mosley were aware of the situation but took no action.
The defendants emphasized that Massa had the opportunity to pursue legal recourse between 2008 and 2009, citing his own errors in the Singapore race as the cause of his title loss. They also argued that stripping Hamilton of his championship would be unjust. Court proceedings are set to conclude on October 31, with a final decision expected later.
Massa, who competed for Ferrari from 2006 to 2013 alongside Michael Schumacher, retired from racing in 2017.
