Felipe Massa's Lawyer Accuses Ex-F1 Bosses of 'Conspiring' in Crashgate Cover-up

Felipe Massa's legal team alleges that former Formula 1 leaders engaged in a "deliberate concealment" of Nelson Piquet Jr.'s 2008 Singapore Grand Prix crash. This accusation is central to Massa's ongoing lawsuit disputing the legitimacy of that year's championship, which he lost by a single point to Lewis Hamilton.

Why it matters:

Felipe Massa's quest to overturn the 2008 F1 championship, over a decade and a half later, represents an unprecedented challenge to the sport's historical records. If successful, it could set a contentious precedent for future claims and significantly impact the perceived integrity of Formula 1's past results. The case, currently in pre-trial hearings, hinges on claims of a high-level cover-up, bringing into question the actions of key figures in F1 at the time.

The Details:

• Massa is seeking £64 million in damages from the FIA, Formula One Management (FOM), and Bernie Ecclestone.
• The lawsuit stems from an interview where former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone allegedly admitted that he and former FIA president Max Mosley were aware of the 'Crashgate' plot in 2008 but chose not to act to avoid a scandal.
  • Ecclestone's lawyer, David Quest KC, stated that Ecclestone does not recall giving the interview.
• The 'Crashgate' incident involved Nelson Piquet Jr. deliberately crashing his car during the 2008 Singapore GP to benefit his Renault teammate Fernando Alonso, who subsequently won the race due to a strategically timed safety car period.
• Massa, who led the Singapore race, suffered a disastrous pit stop where his fuel hose remained attached to his car, leading him to finish 13th. Hamilton, his title rival, finished third in that race.
• Massa's lawyer, Nick De Marco KC, argued that the incident was one of the "most serious incidents of sport manipulation in world sport," threatening the lives of spectators and the driver.
• De Marco further stated that F1 leaders at the time were involved in a "deliberate concealment of the conspiracy" to protect their own interests and the sport's image.

Between the lines:

FOM's counsel, Anneliese Day KC, countered that Massa's failure to win the championship was simply due to Hamilton "outperforming" him throughout the season, not due to the Crashgate incident. She described Massa's situation as having "the misfortune to be up against one of the greatest drivers the sport has ever seen," suggesting the litigation is unlikely to achieve Massa's desired outcome.

What's next:

The pre-trial hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice in London is expected to conclude on Friday. The court will then decide whether the case warrants a full trial or if it will be dismissed, a decision eagerly awaited by the F1 community and legal observers alike.