P1racenews AI automatic summary:
“We will pursue this to the very end in order to achieve a just and fair outcome – for myself, for motorsport in Brazil, and for the sport as a whole.”
Felipe Massa is seeking $82 million in damages related to the 2008 ‘Crashgate’ scandal, where Renault’s actions during the Singapore Grand Prix were brought into question by former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone.
The 11-time F1 grand prix winner will appear in London’s High Court for the first time on October 28 to address the issue.
The legal battle initiated by Massa was triggered by Ecclestone’s statements to a German publication concerning the ‘Crashgate’ incident.
Renault orchestrated Nelson Piquet Jr.’s intentional crash during the 2008 Singapore GP, ultimately helping teammate Fernando Alonso secure the victory through a Safety Car deployment.
Massa claims the pit stop error caused by the Safety Car cost him the win, potentially affecting the 2008 F1 championship outcome against Lewis Hamilton.
Massa emphasizes the need for accountability in F1 and vows to pursue the legal proceedings to ensure a fair resolution, not just for himself but for the integrity of the sport.
Ecclestone downplays his remarks about the scandal and questions the validity of Massa’s case, denying any attempts to cover up the incident in question.
