Championship 2008: Felipe Massa gathered lawyers
The Vice World Champion of 2008, Felipe Massa, wishes to explore the possible legal remedies following his defeat in the world championship race against Lewis Hamilton.
Almost 15 years later, the 2008 Formula 1 World Championship may not have yet reached its conclusion. As we revealed earlier this month, Felipe Massa wanted to explore the legal options available to claim the 2008 world champion title.
Bernie Ecclestone breaks the silence
The starting point of this whole story dates back to the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, where the Crashgate scandal erupted. Flavio Briatore, the leader of the Renault team, had intentionally asked Nelson Piquet Jr. to lose control of his car and crash into a wall in order to bring out a safety car and allow his teammate Fernando Alonso to win the race through a “stroke of luck.”
Thirteen years after the events, former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone confessed: “We had enough information in time to investigate this matter. We should have canceled the Singapore race under these circumstances.”
This announcement from the former grand treasurer had prompted the Brazilian driver to consider the possibility of requesting a legal review. He declared: “There are rules, and there are many things that, depending on the country, prevent you from going back 15 years to resolve a situation.”
The points lost by Massa during this race were decisive in the final result. If the race result had been canceled, the Brazilian would have been crowned world champion ahead of Lewis Hamilton.
Few options seem realistic.
Felipe Massa has now assembled a team of lawyers to assess the situation and determine if there are any grounds for hope. The driver also wishes for the situation to be handled discreetly, which means that the Paulista will no longer make any public statements regarding the recent measures taken.
However, the chances of success seem slim. The FIA’s international sporting code does not allow claims after a race, and the right to request a review expires fourteen calendar days after a competition.
If he wished, Felipe Massa could request a review of the decision before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but the FIA judicial system clearly indicates that the highest authority capable of responding to the Brazilian’s request is the Independent International Court of Appeal. It would also be necessary for all individuals involved in this matter to agree to attend the trial.
