Massa’s $80 million legal battle faces delay after London hearing

Felipe Massa is facing a delay in learning whether his high-profile legal challenge over the outcome of the 2008 Formula 1 world championship can proceed, after a preliminary three-day hearing in London last week ended without an immediate ruling.

The former Ferrari driver is seeking around £64 million ($80 million) in damages from Bernie Ecclestone, Formula One Management (FOM), and the FIA, alleging that their failure to properly investigate the infamous “Crashgate” scandal at the 2008 Singapore GP cost him the world title.

Mr Justice Jay, presiding over the case at the High Court in London, confirmed on Friday that his judgment would be reserved and delivered at a later date.

“Judgment will be reserved to be handed down at a future date,” the judge said at the conclusion of the hearing.

Bringing Back a Ghost From the Past

Massa lost the 2008 drivers’ championship to Lewis Hamilton by a single point but argues that the result would have been different had Formula 1’s authorities properly handled the events of the Singapore Grand Prix.

During that race, Renault driver Nelson Piquet Jr deliberately crashed under team orders to help teammate Fernando Alonso win. The incident triggered a safety car that derailed Massa’s race strategy.

A chaotic pit stop followed — Massa drove away prematurely with the fuel hose still attached, scattering crew members and ending his chances of scoring points.

It was not until the following year that Piquet revealed that he had been instructed to crash, a revelation that rocked the sport and led to bans for senior Renault figures.

Massa’s lawyers now contend that both Ecclestone and the FIA were aware of the deliberate crash before the 2008 season ended but chose not to act, thereby breaching their duty to ensure the championship’s integrity.

Defendants Seek Dismissal, Massa Pushes for Full Trial

The defendants – Ecclestone, FOM, and the FIA – have all rejected Massa’s allegations and are seeking to have the case struck out.

In written submissions, David Quest KC, representing Ecclestone, said Massa’s legal action amounted to “a misguided attempt to reopen the results of the 2008 F1 Drivers’ Championship.”

Lawyers for the defense also argued that Massa’s claim had been filed too late and that his own performance in Singapore – rather than the actions of others – was to blame for his lost title bid.

Massa, who personally attended the hearing, is not only pursuing financial compensation for lost earnings and sponsorships but also declarations that the FIA breached its own regulations.

His legal team maintains that if the governing body had acted appropriately, the Singapore Grand Prix results would have been voided — making Massa the rightful 2008 world champion.

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Representing the Brazilian, Nick De Marco KC countered that the defendants “cannot establish that Mr Massa’s claims have no real prospect of success,” urging the court to allow the case to move forward to a full trial.

He added that the declarations Massa seeks are “the most effective means of doing justice in his case.”

Awaiting the Next Lap in a Legal Battle

The outcome of last week’s preliminary hearing will determine whether Massa’s claim proceeds to trial or is dismissed before evidence is heard.

For now, the former Ferrari star – who came within seconds of clinching the 2008 title – must wait for the court’s verdict on whether his long fight for justice can continue.

If the case is allowed to go ahead, it could open the door to one of the most extraordinary legal challenges Formula 1’s history – one that revisits a scandal the sport thought it had long since left in the past.

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