Bernie Ecclestone, Formula 1, and the FIA are facing a massive $82 million (£64.1m) lawsuit from former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa. Massa is determined to reclaim the 2008 world championship title, which he lost to Sir Lewis Hamilton by just one point. The legal action was filed in the UK’s High Court on Monday. Last year, Ecclestone stated that Massa was the rightful winner of the 2008 title, sparking controversy. This controversy revolves around the Singapore Grand Prix, where Renault ordered Nelson Piquet Jr. to crash intentionally, bringing out the safety car and strategically helping teammate Fernando Alonso secure victory. Massa’s race was ruined, and he finished 13th, while Hamilton came in third. Ecclestone later admitted in a 2023 interview that he and then-FIA president Max Mosley knew about the ‘Crashgate’ scandal at the time but chose not to act to protect the sport from a major scandal.
Massa is seeking justice in court to right this historical injustice. He plans to sue the FIA and Formula One Management, as they decided not to take any action. In a statement, Massa expressed his determination to fight until the end and said that his lawyers are fully authorized to do whatever is necessary to serve justice in sport. Ecclestone, despite being named in the lawsuit, supports Massa’s decision to take legal action. He believes that letting an English judge decide what is right and wrong is the best course of action.
This lawsuit adds to the ongoing scandals in F1, including the allegations against FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and the controversy surrounding Red Bull boss Christian Horner. The 2024 F1 season will continue on March 24th with the Australian Grand Prix.
