Bernie Ecclestone's 'Conspiracy' Under Scrutiny in Felipe Massa's Court Case

The alleged "conspiracy" involving Bernie Ecclestone and a cover-up regarding the deliberate nature of Nelson Piquet Jr.'s 2008 Singapore Grand Prix crash took center stage in Felipe Massa's High Court case on Thursday. This revelation, stemming from a 2023 interview where Ecclestone admitted prior knowledge, forms the core of Massa's claim for damages and recognition as the 'rightful' 2008 F1 champion.

Why it matters:

Felipe Massa's pursuit of justice, years after the infamous 'crashgate' scandal, challenges the integrity of Formula 1's historical record and its governing bodies. Should his case prevail, it could set a significant precedent for how past controversies are revisited and potentially rewrite a pivotal moment in F1 championship history, impacting the sport's credibility and the perception of fair play.

The Details:

• On the second day of a three-day pre-trial hearing in London, Massa's lawyer, Nick de Marco, KC, focused on the roles of Ecclestone and then-FIA president Max Mosley in the 'crashgate' incident.
• Massa is seeking approximately £64 million in damages and the right to be recognized as the 'rightful' 2008 champion, though he is not attempting to overturn Lewis Hamilton's title.
• De Marco argued that Massa is only now bringing the case against Ecclestone, Formula One Management (FOM), and the FIA due to the "deliberate concealment" of Ecclestone's knowledge about Piquet's deliberate crash.
• Key Evidence: The foundation of Massa's claim is an interview Ecclestone gave to F1 Insider in 2023, where he stated that he and Mosley knew about the deliberate crash during the 2008 Brazilian GP weekend but chose not to act.
• Timing of the Case: When questioned by Mr. Justice Jay about Massa being time-barred from bringing action in 2009 but not in 2025, de Marco asserted that Ecclestone's 2023 interview was the first time the "deliberate concealment of a conspiracy" became apparent to Massa.
  • De Marco stated, "After many years, that interview was the first time it became apparent to Mr Massa that there had been a deliberate concealment of a conspiracy that was known."
• FIA's Duty: The lawyer emphasized the FIA's duty to enforce its regulations and protect the sport's integrity. He cited Ecclestone's interview as confirmation that the FIA had sufficient evidence to investigate the crash at the time and should have done so.
• Criticism of Handling: De Marco strongly criticized Ecclestone and Mosley's handling of the 2009 World Motor Sport Council report on the crash, alleging they covered up information due to concerns about the consequences.
  • "The people who wrote this report, Ecclestone and Mosley, knew they had sufficient evidence but were worried about the consequences, so they covered it up," de Marco added.
  • He concluded, "He was cheated by Ecclestone and Mosley; there was nothing to make Mr Massa aware that Mr Ecclestone and Mr Mosley had the information to act, when they had said the opposite."

What's next:

The pre-trial hearing is ongoing, with further examination of the complex legal arguments surrounding the statute of limitations and the extent of Ecclestone's and Mosley's alleged cover-up. The outcome of this preliminary hearing will determine if Massa's full case proceeds to trial, potentially opening a pandora's box for historical F1 controversies and challenging the sport's long-held records.