P1racenews AI automatic summary:
FIA launch defence against ‘torturous’ Felipe Massa claim in Lewis Hamilton title trial
The court representative for the FIA has responded to Felipe Massa’s legal challenge against F1’s governing body, Bernie Ecclestone, and Formula One Management (FOM), involving the ‘Crashgate’ scandal from 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.
Massa seeks £64 million in damages for alleged breach of contract related to the incident where Renault orchestrated a crash to favor their driver, Fernando Alonso, over Massa, influencing the championship results.
Former F1 CEO Ecclestone’s 2023 comments implicated awareness of Renault’s plan prior to public disclosure in 2009, with allegations of a cover-up to avoid scandal.
Massa alleges that had the FIA intervened sooner, the Singapore GP results could have been voided, potentially altering the championship outcome in his favor against Lewis Hamilton.
The FIA, along with Ecclestone and FOM, have refuted the claims and sought to have the case dismissed, prompting a response from Massa’s legal team, with the court hearing expected to conclude soon.
