Massa's 2008 F1 title case heads to UK court this week

Felipe Massa's case disputing his missed 2008 Formula 1 world title is heading to London court this week with Massa seeking damages at the Royal Courts of Justice.

The Brazilian filed a lawsuit against governing body the FIA, commercial rightsholder FOM, and former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone after an interview with the F1-Insider website in 2023.

Ecclestone admitted that he and then FIA president Max Mosley had learned about ‘Crashgate’ from the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, but decided to not take action to avoid tarnishing F1’s image. Later, Ecclestone claimed his quotes were mistranslated.

In Singapore, Renault driver Nelson Piquet Jr purposefully crashed at Turn 17 to trigger a safety car which helped team-mate Fernando Alonso win the race.

Nelson Piquet Jr., Renault F1 Team R28 crashes into the wall

Photo by: Sutton Images

Renault officials Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds were originally banned for their involvement, yet those punishments were later overturned by a French court.

Massa was leading the Singapore race early on, but then a botched pitstop under the safety car, where Ferrari prematurely released him with the hosepipe still in the F2008, led to him finishing off the podium. 

He consequently missed out on crucial championship points that Massa felt cost him the title to Lewis Hamilton, who won it by a point in the dramatic Brazil finale.   

Hearings started on Tuesday, judge Sir Robert Jay reads the case files and then hears both parties involved. It may be decided as early as Friday whether the trial warrants a full hearing in the future and if the defendants are successful, Massa's case could end there and then.