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Massa files lawsuit against FIA, FOM over 2008 F1 Singapore GP
Representatives of Massa confirmed on Monday that legal action has been taken in the High Court of Justice against three parties regarding the 2008 F1 Marina Bay race, which Felipe Massa believes should be voided due to Nelson Piquet Jr.’s deliberate crash and subsequent victory for Fernando Alonso. Massa’s botched pitstop allowed Lewis Hamilton to finish second and claim the title by one point. Ecclestone initially claimed there was enough evidence to investigate the matter, but later denied giving such an interview. Massa is seeking declarations that the FIA breached regulations by not investigating Piquet’s crash promptly and that he would have won the championship that year. Further, he’s seeking damages for financial loss due to the FIA’s alleged failure, with Ecclestone and FOM also implicated. Efforts for resolution hit a dead end, leading Massa to initiate legal proceedings, amidst key personnel unavailability during the 2023 season break. Critically, a whistleblower has accused FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem of meddling in the 2023 Saudi Arabian GP result and impeding the homologation of the Las Vegas street circuit. These events highlight ongoing concerns about transparency and integrity in F1, necessitating significant effort to restore its credibility and secure the sport’s future. Massa is reportedly seeking compensation between £60-150 million, while FOM declined to comment on the matter when approached by Autosport.
